Light Conquers Darkness
Exhibition of Ukrainian artists in Berlin
21.07-25.08.2022
Where? Green Hill Gallery, Grünberger Str. 13, 10243 Berlin.
VERNISSAGE: 21 July 2022 (Thursday) 19:00
FINISSAGE & ARTIST TALK: 25 August 2022 (Thursday) 19:00
ABOUT
“Life will conquer death and light - darkness.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, have become the main motto of all Ukrainians. However, these are not just words for the present. Ukrainian history, unfortunately, knows too many assaults from the imperialistic neighbor: deportations, repressions, russification of eastern cities, purges, the Holodomor. More than once, Ukraine was getting persuaded in its impotence as a country, time after time facing historical facts and terms being given a new meaning, a meaning beneficial to anyone but Ukrainians. And yet, Ukraine stands regardless of the fates of the beggarly persecutions. Ukrainian unity is a result of historical context and cultural heritage.
Life always conquers death; a thrive to life is in Ukrainian blood on a cultural level. Ukrainian land is black soil and agriculture; even today, agriculture remains one of the most profitable industries, so having a historical and geographical context of farmers, Ukrainians have always paid special attention to life in all its manifestations. Almost every artifact of traditional culture depicts ornaments that talk to life: oak as a symbol of family, viburnum as a symbol of health, a branch of grapes as a symbol of the joy of family life, and happiness from its replenishment. A special place in the flowery language is given to the feminine figure, beregynia - mother of every living thing and protector of life. Depicting Beregynia on artifacts of daily routine, people would ask her to protect life in its different forms: for children to be born, for wheat to be grown, for the rain to come so life on earth can keep on growing. While speaking about life, we mean not only life as existence itself, but more like a life full of happiness and freedom, which is always a choice and hard work.
Having lived as a conscious choice is a particular national sign of Ukrainians: choose life over death, choose joy over despair, choose freedom over slavery, choose courage over revenge. This is especially acute now when every Ukrainian decides to be involved in the victory, making every effort to win the right to have a free life.
There was a lot of frustration and pain coming from that war. Still, as an answer to that endless pain, every Ukrainian starts to act: as a soldier, diplomat, volunteer, and cultural ambassador. But most importantly, a daily battle must be held: a fight to remain a human being, a struggle to live a happy life, a match not to let darkness absorb the beauty of the life of not only Ukrainians but all.
The famous berlin newspaper “Der Tagesspiegel” just made a review on our current exhibition on July 29, see the article here.
During the exhibition, you can buy the artwork and prints. Part of the money will be donated to help Ukraine (the fund we trust: "Hospitallers," a volunteer organization of paramedics founded in 2014 ) https://www.hospitallers.life/
The exhibition is curated by Olha Lobazova and the KULTPROSTIR project
https://www.instagram.com/kultprostir/
MEET THE ARTISTS
Ganna Bogachuk
1986
Ukraine (currently based in Lithuania)
Media: visual art, figurative
I'm a Ukrainian artist currently based in Vilnius, Lithuania, due to the war in Ukraine. I have studied fine art since I was six at Fine Art School. Despite this, there was a long break after school due to moving to Kyiv for work. I restarted my artist path in 2018.
I'm discovering Ukrainian ethnic visual codes, folk art, and traditions in my art. I try to rethink folk culture and use it in a modern way, speaking with contemporaneity in the language of our ancestors. Before the war, I started new series called “Chervone (red).”
Some of them will be presented during the exhibition.
Mariia Kovalchuk
1992
Lubny, Poltava oblast, Ukraine
Media: various
I don't follow any specific artistic movement, I like to experiment with different methods of getting my point across. I view each of my activities as part of a single, ongoing work.
As a printmaker, I am most interested in the topic of feminism and the image of women in culture and society. With my prints I intend to tell the stories of prominent women and their contributions to the course of historical events.
As a publisher, my goal is to introduce the reader to Ukrainian underground art and show that anyone can be an artist. In our publishing house we print magazines, art books, and prints of current cultural figures.
As a motion designer I have always been fascinated by the possibility of bringing a static picture to life. My partner and I used traditional and distinctive frame-by-frame animation to create music videos, titles for TV series and commercials.
Jane Laptii
1992
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Media: photography
I started my career as a photographer in 2016. Then, I started doing my first photo project, in which I was inspired by the culture of romanticism and the nature of the village where I lived. The town in the Kharkiv region, which I moved to in 2016, played a significant role in my development as an artist. Picturesque landscapes, in a sense, neglect, freedom inspired me to create deeply romantic images imbued with individuality and alienation from the world, bustling. It is through the realization of “man-part of nature” came the realization that the human body is its largest “organ” of interaction with this world. Man is a part of the universe; through the body, he knows the world. In our society, the body, in many respects, acts as an element of propaganda; it is vulgarized and slandered, and true intimate corporality is taboo. In my work, I create a separate mythological system where the body lives in harmony with the environment; it is not banned, it is not hidden, and it lives by the laws of the universe. This is where I see a chance to change established cultural paradigms.
Olha Lobazova
1992
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Media: various
I have always been interested in Ukrainian culture and started my path as an artist back at school, doing all kinds of traditional art such as pysanky (Easter eggs), vytynanky (paper cut), and exploring Ukrainian culture by participating in folklore expeditions. After more than ten years brake building an engineering career, I returned to my roots since the war started. In response to the complex feelings and stress I experienced, I started an online project, KULTPROSTIR, which aims to share modern Ukrainian culture and folklore. I created several small art projects with clay and pysanky.
Alena Shybunova
1983
Kyiv, Ukraine
Media: installation
I consider the intuitive, sensual approach the primary method in my work.
I am interested in using space as matter, changing it, and transforming it with the help of objects.
I explore the relationship between the inner and outer world.
Anna Voda
1986
Kharkiv, Ukraine
Media: acrylic and oil painting
The main theme for me is joy, the influence of color on the state of the viewer, I really want to convey lightness and gaiety. I like to paint women, household items, and some simple daily life. Make routine fun.
I am a painter, I prefer oil and acrylic. I am fond of frame-by-frame animation, and I make short cartoons.