“Motanka” at Junior Eurovision: How the Ukrainian Motanka Doll Inspires Contemporary Art

Yesterday, during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the young Ukrainian artist Sofia Nersesian achieved an impressive 2nd place with her song entitled “Motanka.” A powerful and emotional moment that resonated far beyond the musical stage.

The choice of this title is deeply meaningful. It reflects how the Ukrainian motanka doll, an ancient cultural form, continues to inspire younger generations and contemporary creativity — in music, textile art, visual arts, and cultural transmission.

🧵 The Ukrainian Motanka Doll: Cultural Heritage and Living Tradition

The Ukrainian motanka doll belongs to Ukrainian cultural heritage. Historically, it is connected to:

• ancient domestic and family practices,

• intergenerational transmission,

• textile folk art,

• symbolic representations of femininity, continuity, and connection.

It is important to clarify:👉 the motanka doll is not a religious object nor a scientifically proven talisman. Researchers, ethnographers, and professional artists working with motanka traditions strongly emphasize this distinction.

At the same time, many cultures — including Ukrainian culture — have long attributed symbolic meanings to handmade dolls and textile objects. These meanings were transmitted through stories, gestures, and social practices. Today, some of these interpretations evolve into what can be described as a contemporary mythology — widely shared, culturally meaningful, but not factual in a scientific sense.

🎶 “Motanka” as a Cultural Metaphor in Sofia’s Song

In Sofia’s song, “Motanka” functions as a poetic metaphor —a symbol of memory, identity, and the threads that connect generations, even in times of crisis.

This is not a factual claim, but an artistic interpretation, fully legitimate within creative expression. Like many traditional forms used in modern art, the motanka doll here becomes an open symbol, inviting personal reflection.

This success at Junior Eurovision demonstrates how Ukrainian culture remains dynamic, relevant, and forward-looking, rather than confined to folklore.

🌍 Motanka Today: Creation, Transmission, and Research

In recent years, the motanka doll has attracted renewed interest:

• in creative workshops for children and adults,

• in contemporary textile art,

• in cultural exhibitions across Europe,

• and within ecological, handmade, and educational practices.

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Many people encounter the motanka while searching for:

• meaningful handmade objects,

• sustainable creative practices,

• or “motanka doll making” (Motanka Puppe selber machen).

What matters is maintaining a clear distinction between:

• documented tradition,

• contemporary artistic creation,

• and personal belief.

  
  

✨ A Living Tradition That Continues to Inspire

The success of “Motanka” at Junior Eurovision beautifully illustrates this process:culture is not static — it is alive, shaped by dialogue, reinterpretation, and transmission.

As an artist who has worked with the motanka doll for over a decade, I see this moment as a sign of strength:a culture that continues to inspire, connect, and evolve — without losing its depth.

Congratulations to Sofia, and heartfelt thanks to the young Ukrainian generation for carrying this voice onto European and international stages.

And you, how do you find the song? Please, do share your thoughts and impressions :)