Ukrainian Contemporary Artists in Warsaw

Is it still possible to create meaningful art when your life is under a threat? When you feel overwhelmed by the news of atrocities committed in your country by the barbarian invaders? Many Ukrainian contemporary artists faced this questions when their lives crumbled on the 24th of February. Within weeks, Russian missiles reduced some of the Ukrainian cities to rubbles, while those not destroyed are constantly dealing with power, heat and water shortages. Hardly ideal conditions for creating art. Yet, the ‘Ukraine. Under a Different Sky’ exhibition in Warsaw proves that Ukrainian artists, in spite of difficulties, feel the urge to document this challenging time and to appeal to the world’s conscience. 

              ‘Ukraine. Under a Different Sky’ contemporary art exhibition

The exhibition presents more than 200 artworks by 32 Ukrainian artists, both men and women. It is hosted at the Ujazdowski Castle/ Centre for Contemporary Art, where you can expect to see a variety of styles and techniques: from documentary photography to video installations, graphic design and sculptures. All of them have been created in 2022 in response to Russian invasion. As you can see in the photos below, they display a whole range of emotions from anger and grief to hope in the final victory. 

Get acquainted with Ukrainian contemporary artists

Within this wide net of artworks, one group addresses the external conditions and the aftermath of atrocities that we know from the media. These include documentary photos by Roman Bordun and Pavlo Itkin as well as abstract and symbolic paintings by Oleksiy Sai and Danylo Movchan.

A sense of poetry emerges from the large scale images of night-time Kharhiv with the sky illuminated by stars that you can now easily mistake for falling missiles.  A dramatic installation by Julia Zakharova smashes the idea that any rule can guarantee personal safety in times of war, while ‘Lullaby’ by Daria Koltsova pays tribute to Ukrainian children, the innocent victims of bombings.

There is a place for dark humour too, visible in the ‘Ukrainian Tarot’ series with many allusions to the victorious Armed Forces of Ukraine.

‘War is also a time to understand the true meaning of life and true values,’ says Victoria Burlaka, one of the curators. ‘Ukraine. Under a Different Sky’ emphasises the power of gratitude and daily rituals in response to threat and cruelty. Slowly life returns to the liberated regions and restores faith in victory. Throughout the exhibition, you can sense the feeling of immediacy. These artworks have captured a fleeting moment of great importance to the history of Ukraine and the world. 

The exhibition is on view at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw until 12th of March 2023.