The European External Action Service has “adopted” an exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian art, which cannot return to Ukraine due the Russian aggression. The exhibition “UNFOLDING LANDSCAPES” presents artworks by 42 Ukrainian artists and came to Europe at the beginning of this year, still before the Russian invasion, when it opened at KunstCentret Silkeborg in Denmark on 29 January. 
 
After the end of the exhibition in Silkeborg in May, the artworks were supposed to be shipped back to Ukraine. Because of the war the works cannot be returned home for the time being since many of the owners – artists and collectors – are either unavailable, in hiding, fleeing or fighting, or have their homes destroyed. This is how this exhibition became homeless, as are millions of Ukrainian refugees.
 
In these circumstances and in show of support and solidarity with Ukraine, the European External Action Service decided to “adopt” this exhibition and supported its relocation to Brussels. The Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels has agreed to host it on their premises. 
 
The works of art will be on display there from 20 July to 18 September. The intention is to make Brussels the first stop of a larger European tour as long as the Russian aggression in Ukraine continues. 
 
This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to share Ukrainian culture with the European audiences, and to create a space with a sense of home for Ukrainians abroad. 
 
A press conference before the opening of the exhibition will take place on 19 July at 11 a.m. at the Royal Museum of Art and History in Parc du Cinquantenaire. For registration, please contact the Royal Museum of Art and History: Goffart Anne a.goffart@kmkg-mrah.be.
 
For background

On the exhibition: Ukraine has a very rich art scene. With UNFOLDING LANDSCAPES the audience is offered a unique insight into current artistic practices and contemporary tradition in Ukraine. The choice has been to show many artists, each represented with a few selected works, and to include a varied range of expressions such as painting, installation, video, sculpture and photography. A curatorial effort has been made to embrace examples of important artists from the older and the younger generations of contemporary Ukrainian artists.

The exhibition is initiated by Sergei Sviatchenko (DK/UA), curated by Faye Dowling (UK) and Natalia Matsenko (UA), and commissioned by Iben From (DK).

Artists represented: Anna Bekerskaya, Nazar Bilyk, Katya Buchatska, Hryhoriy Havrylenko, Ksenia Hnylytska, Oleksandr Hnylytskyi, Oleg Holosiy, Lucy Ivanova, Zhanna Kadyrova, Pavlo Kerestey, Vitaliy Kokhan, Alexey Kondakov, Dana Kosmina, Taras Kovach, Mykola Kryvenko, Anatoliy Kryvolap, Katya Libkind, Pavlo Makov, Sasha Maslov, Mykola Matsenko, Yevgen Nikiforov, Yuriy Pikul, Julie Poly, Georgiy Potopalskiy, Vlada Ralko, Stepan Ryabchenko, Vasyl Ryabchenko, Ruїns Collective, Andriy Sahaidakovskyi, Oleksiy Sai, Yuri Solomko, Marina Skugareva, Tiberiy Silvashi, Sergei Sviatchenko, Elena Subach & Viacheslav Poliakov, Oleg Tistol, Yuri Yefanov, Lesja Zajac, Viktor Zaretskyi, Anna Zvyagintseva and Alexander Zhyvotkov.

 
On EU support in the field of culture: Since the beginning of the war, the European Union has mobilised strong support for the protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine. Moreover, it has helped to keep cultural networks intact and provide opportunities for creatives to continue their artistic work.

The EU Delegation in Kyiv quickly repurposed projects started before Russia’s aggression in order to better respond to emergency needs. Dedicated actions under EU external assistance instruments have also contributed to the documentation of assets and provided equipment for the protection, storage and, where needed, evacuation of cultural heritage goods. These measures have been part of an integrated approach, complementing other actions supported by the EU, in particular a specific action aimed at saving the digital documentation of Ukrainian cultural heritage, to preserve its memory and support the future restoration. Moreover, a dedicated online communication campaign, #ARTvsWAR, promoted drawing attention to the destructions made by Russian militaries and increasing alertness towards further possible risks for Ukrainian cultural heritage.
 
On EU cultural diplomacy: In cultural diplomacy, art contributes at a civil society level to the dialogue between countries. Its language does not require translation. Art is multifaceted and transboundary. The EU stands for cultural diversity, freedom of expression and freedom to create. Ukrainian culture fits well into our approach. Moreover, this exhibition focuses on landscapes. Landscapes, people and environment or, more general, sustainability are high on the agenda of international cultural relations, also in the context of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.