Art Workers' Self-Defense Initiative Calls for Boycott of Mystetskyi Arsenal Over Censorship
Founded in Kyiv in 2012, the Art Workers' Self-Defense Initiative has released an open letter calling for a boycott of Mystetskyi Arsenal. This demand follows incidents of censorship during the Great and Grand exhibition held from July 26-28, 2013, where Volodymyr Kuznetsov's Koliivshchyna: Judgment Day was censored, and Vasyl Tsagolov's Molotov Cocktail was omitted. The Initiative condemns Mystetskyi Arsenal as a pro-regime organization that neglects contemporary art, fostering a one-dimensional narrative of national pride. Director N. Zabolotna's actions are seen as prioritizing power over artistic expression. The boycott will persist until the institution clarifies its stance, admits to censorship, and guarantees no further occurrences. Coverage has been featured in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the New York Times.
Key facts
- The Art Workers' Self-Defense Initiative was established in Kyiv in 2012.
- Mystetskyi Arsenal is Ukraine's largest cultural complex, managed under the Presidential administration.
- The boycott targets Mystetskyi Arsenal and affiliates like Art Ukraine and Mala Galereya.
- Censorship occurred at the exhibition Great and Grand from July 26-28, 2013.
- Volodymyr Kuznetsov's work Koliivshchyna: Judgment Day was censored.
- Vasyl Tsagolov's painting Molotov Cocktail was excluded from the exhibition.
- Director N. Zabolotna's actions exposed the institution's issues.
- The Initiative demands public acknowledgment of censorship and guarantees against future acts.
Entities
Artists
- Volodymyr Kuznetsov
- Vasyl Tsagolov
- N. Zabolotna
Institutions
- Art Workers' Self-Defense Initiative
- Mystetskyi Arsenal
- Art Ukraine
- Mala Galereya of Mystetskyi Arsenal
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- New York Times
- Presidential administration
Locations
- Kyiv
- Ukraine