a series of discussions accompanying the exhibition “Ukrajins’kyj Zriz / UKRAINE! UNMUTED”

Grafika pozioma. Na białym tle w lewej części dwa duże zazębiające się trójkąty duży niebieski i mniejszy żółty. Oba nie są do końca jednolite, mają ciemne przetarcia. Zazębiając się tworzą trzeci prawie czarny. Na niebieskim biały napis UKREJN! ANMJUTED. Po prawej stronie grafiki niebiesko-żółty napis po ukraińsku Ukraiński Zriz, gdzie Zriz jest w negatywie, to znaczy ma żółte tło a nie litery. Poniżej czarny napis DYSKUSJE. Jeszcze niżej trochę mniejszy napis czarnymi literami dwudziesty szósty października dwa tysiące dwadzieścia trzy / Centrum Kultury w Lublinie / Galeria Biała / Lublin.

To talk.
Now, after a year and a half of a full-scale war and incredible aggression from Russia, it is important for Ukrainians not to stop talking. So that we can still be heard. To talk not only about the pain and losses we are currently experiencing, but also about what supports us and gives us faith in tomorrow. What can Ukraine, its citizens, communities and cities contribute to the pan-European treasury, to the future of United Europe? What is the source of solidarity and why does uniting – a condition of social progress – become a guarantee of survival in a borderline situation? How did the power of solidarity and empathy open up to Ukrainians in the midst of the most terrible darkness? How did Russian aggression change the perception of Ukrainian culture around the world and in other European countries? How and what do Ukrainians now tell others through culture and art — or, more precisely, what do others hear and why? We will talk about this during debates as part of the Triennial of Ukrainian Contemporary Art “Przekrój Ukraiński: UKRAINE! UNMUTED.” They will be attended by managers, cultural researchers, artists, curators from Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Great Britain and the USA. The focus will be on the possibility of Ukrainian cities running for the title of European Capital of Culture, solidarity between and within communities in times of crisis, contemporary art as a way of gaining subjectivity, telling one’s own story(s) and cooperation with the Other.

26 October / Sala Długa, Galeria Biała, Centre for Culture in Lublin

13:00 – 15:00

The Art of War
Conversations around the collection of essays on Ukrainian culture UKRAINE! UNMUTED
The book presented to the reader, although partly educational, also encourages further exploration of knowledge. Its second part contains a lot of surprises and challenges not only the stereotypical perception of Ukraine, but also ideas about its scale and contribution to other cultures. At the same time, it is not a catalog of success stories that the world somehow missed. Our authors are aware of problems, traumas and losses. They were called to explain, not to captivate with majesty.
We will talk to the authors of the essays, Kateryna Botanova and Yurko Vovkohon, about their texts and the issues they raise, here and now. The conversation will be moderated by Oksana Forostyna.

16:00 – 17:30

Our bright side. History of solidarity
What do people learn about themselves as a community in times of crisis?
We usually think of solidarity as a virtue that representatives of one or another community demonstrate in difficult times. When we hear this word, we think of kindness and compassion. However, it cannot be said that this kindness and compassion are always distributed evenly. Solidarity is not accidental. So where does it start? Is it possible that solidarity (or lack thereof) is a mirror in which people can see what they did not know about themselves before?
Participants: Iryna Starovoyt, Edwin Bendyk, Tamar Jacoby, Anna Lazar, Andrew Wilson
Moderator: Oksana Forostyna

 

18:00 – 19:30

Between us. How ukrainian contemporary art is perceived outside Ukraine?
Is contemporary Ukrainian art visible outside Ukraine, in galleries and in the information space, and to what extent?
Contemporary art in Ukraine is art created in the period of modern history, after Ukraine regained independence, how it was perceived abroad at the turn of the millennium, and how is it perceived now, before Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine and a year and a half after the start of the war? What changes in the works of Ukrainian artists are noticeable from the outside – since February 24, 2022, many Ukrainian artists have presented their work in various European countries? Finally, how did Russian aggression change the perspective and optics of Ukrainian culture, also in relation to history and statehood? Do the changes have a general dimension or, for example, have they strengthened decolonization issues? How and what do Ukrainians say to others today using the language of art – or rather, what do others perceive and why?
Participants: Oksana Karpovets (online), Zbigniew Sobczuk, Waldemar Tatarczuk, Żanna Komar
Moderator: Oksana Forostyna

Project implemented by the Institute of Cultural Strategy (Lviv), Virmenska Association (Lviv) and the Cultural Center in Lublin Galeria Biała thanks to the financial support of the Lviv City Council, The Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, International Renaissance Foundation, ЗMIN Foundation The event takes place as part of the European Youth Capital 2023 #ESM2023