On February 19, in collaboration with the Fulbright Programme in Ukraine and the Union of War Artists with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the American House presented works by contemporary artists that depict and reflect on the theme of war.
"It is a great honor for me to be here today to celebrate the work of these wonderful artists and all of you. And it is a privilege for me to support Ukraine while you defend yourselves and your cultural identity from Russia's brutal attacks," said Bridget Brink, Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine.
Each work in the exhibitions "Ukraine: War and Resistance" and "Art from War Fragments" reflects a unique experience born from living through the darkest times and deepest emotions. The exhibits serve as reflections of personal experiences and feelings, conveying the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people, their heroism, and resistance.
"We are immensely grateful to you and, through you, to the entire U.S. government and the American people for understanding our problems and providing practical assistance. We are pleased that the assistance is not only in the form of weapons and funds to sustain our livelihoods. Today, we have powerful support in the humanitarian sphere. The work being done today by the American House in Kyiv and other institutions in the field of public and cultural diplomacy is evidence of this. Just as powerful as the traditional understanding of U.S. foreign diplomacy is, we also see the presence of American diplomacy in the public format. The United States Agency for International Development is our partner today. But it's not just them; undoubtedly, it's also the Fulbright Foundation and many other institutions that, indirectly but with the resources of the United States, are helping. Today, we cannot cope alone. But we are not asking for charity. First and foremost, today we are at the forefront of global democracy defending it. The world must support Ukraine today, because we are now fighting for the entire civilized world. Not only soldiers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting. Every Ukrainian patriot, every citizen, in their place, seeks to make their significant contribution to victory. Artists do this too. In their own way, they shape the so-called spirit of resistance," said Rostyslav Karandieiev, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
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Thus, the exhibition "Art from War Fragments" represents a new form of art created from broken elements. Behind each shard of a shell, each piece of a tank or rocket fragment lies not only the history of the conflict but also the possibility of rebirth. The WAU project embodies this philosophy of transformation: art is born from the remnants of war. Ukrainian rebirth emerges from the instruments of destruction.
The Union of War Artists is a team of unique artists from all over Ukraine who share a common vision: to transform instruments of destruction into expressions of beauty, peace, and hope. Through their art, they not only give a second life to these war-ravaged fragments but also demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit and the idea that creation can overcome destruction.
The exhibition features works by Volodymyr Baliberdin, Stas Kadochnikov, Ivan Stetsiuk, and Serhiy Demchenko.
The exhibition "Ukraine: War and Resistance" features works by American and Ukrainian photographers who are recipients of the Fulbright Programme's academic exchange grants.
