Oleksandr Svishchov: “Art is the strongest weapon. Ukrainians are fighting for their future and cultural values”

An extremely impressive art exhibition titled “Ukraine through the Ages” has ended in Kyiv, which was opened to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. A special feature of this exhibition was the presentation of seven paintings, each representing a different region of Ukraine, such as the central regions, southeastern and northeastern regions, Podillya, Tavria, Galicia, and the Carpathians.

The author of these works, a well-known artist Volodymyr Kozyuk, said that he had been developing the idea of creating such a project for 30 years and studied painting to realize it. He emphasized that the success of this project was due to his team, which included Yevheniia Bozhko, a lecturer in fine arts at the Odesa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, and her students Olha Tiazhelova and Valeriia Kuzmenko.

“For me, art is the embodiment of the values for which we are fighting against our enemies. It is a global signal of the need to defend our country and pave the way to victory,” said Mr. Kozyuk. “That’s why the idea of this project was to show the history of Ukraine through the image of a young woman surrounded by the most important historical and artistic artifacts of the region she represents.”

The Ukrainian lands are embodied in the paintings by female characters dressed in national clothes and decorated with various historical symbols that are characteristic of a particular region. Six of the canvases are 1.8 meters high and 1.2 meters wide.

When looking at these images created by artists, the viewer pays attention not only to the physical beauty of these Ukrainian women. His attention is drawn to fascinating details, and he tries to unravel and explain extraordinary contradictions: inner vulnerability and strength, tenderness and stubbornness, kindness and lack of pity. And perhaps these are the contradictions that the Ukrainian soul has become due to its tragic but heroic history unfolding over the centuries.

Volodymyr Kozyuk, who has organized and participated in more than 50 exhibitions and charity events in support of Ukraine around the world, emphasizes the importance of this project. He emphasizes that art can become a “language code of the nation” that will open up a new worldview and perspectives for the world and for Ukrainians themselves as they seek a way to win in the face of war.

Oleksandr Svishchov, project patron and member of the supervisory board of the NGO “In Heart with Ukraine,” emphasized that the language of art becomes especially important in times of war, when society faces challenges and needs that require a different way of communicating and expressing identity. It is a language that can help restore and strengthen cultural heritage in times of hardship and help Ukrainians show the world who they are and what they stand for.

Art is the most powerful weapon, ancient art and history

Painting on historical themes requires extraordinary work, including in-depth research and study of the details of a particular era. The artist must not only master the historical material, events and characters, but also find the psychological key to the image and capture all the details that characterize that era. Without this, it is difficult to start a creative process in the field of historical art.

The project “Ukraine through the Ages” has the potential to become an important tool for raising national awareness and deepening knowledge of Ukraine’s history. It also provides a platform for in-depth discussions in society. Yuriy Kotyk, philanthropist and public figure, president of the Association of Resorts of Ukraine, expressed his impression of the art exhibition and emphasized that art in the modern world is becoming a means of conveying the inner experiences of Ukrainians through the prism of an artwork, as well as the complex emotions that arise during the war.

Yuriy Kotyk, project manager and president of the NGO In Heart with Ukraine, added that art needs to take into account the context, and curation and management are necessary for a work to become a full-fledged project. These specialists play a key role in building a connection between patrons and artists, as well as between the work and the audience. Curators have a great responsibility in creating bridges between these parties.

The project “Ukraine Through the Ages” was organized jointly by the National Conservation Area “St. Sophia of Kyiv”, the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine, the NGO “In the Heart with Ukraine” and the NGO “Best Artist”. The project partner was the Ukrainian clothing brand Ruta. The exhibition will be available in the Kyiv Cave Monastery, in regional centers of Ukraine, as well as in holy and spiritual centers of Ukraine, and in the future in cities of Western and Eastern Europe.

The exhibition will continue its work in the Kyiv Cave Monastery, in a number of regional centers, as well as in holy and spiritual centers of Ukraine, and will be opened in cities of Western and Eastern Europe.