In the historic Haremeyn Belfry in Bruges, Belgium—a UNESCO World Heritage site—the official opening of the HABITUS art exhibition took place, running until November 21. According to Ukrinform, the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium reported this on Facebook.
The event was part of Ukrainian Culture Week in Belgium and was attended by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Belgium, Yaroslav Melnyk.
HABITUS features works by seven leading Ukrainian artists: Oleh Tistol, Mykola Matsenko, Maryna Skugaryova, Andriy Zelinsky, Dmytro Shevchenko, Vinny Reunov, and Yana Bystrova. The artists explore identity, resilience, and unique forms of human self-organization in an era of profound change.
Ambassador Melnyk emphasized the resilience of Ukrainian culture in his welcoming speech: “While Ukrainian soldiers defend our land and values shared with Europe, Ukrainian culture continues to stand firm and create meaning even in the face of brutal Russian aggression. Your presence today is a gesture of solidarity that strengthens millions of Ukrainians.”
The ambassador also held his first meeting with representatives of Ukrainian communities in Belgium. The embassy expressed gratitude to the city of Bruges, particularly Mayor Dirk De fauw, for solidarity and support, as well as to Svitlana Lebiga, president of the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Belgium and founder of Ukrainian Culture Week, for her long-term efforts in strengthening cultural diplomacy.
