In the Eye of the Storm Exhibition Reexamines Ukrainian Modernism Amidst War
The exhibition titled 'In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930s,' overseen by curators Konstantin Akinsha, Katia Denysova, and Olena Kashuba-Volvach, re-evaluates Ukrainian modernist art against the backdrop of ongoing resistance to Russian aggression. This event was organized swiftly following Russia's invasion in February 2022 and was displayed across five European venues from November 29, 2022, until May 2, 2023. Featuring pieces from the National Art Museum of Kyiv and the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema, the exhibition emphasizes the artistic hubs of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa, while omitting Galicia. It comprises eight sections covering themes like Cubo-Futurism and theater design, showcasing notable artists such as Alexandra Exter, El Lissitzky, and Kazymyr Malevych, and placing their work in the context of Ukraine's political challenges.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930s' ran from November 29, 2022 to May 2, 2023
- Curated by Konstantin Akinsha, Katia Denysova, and Olena Kashuba-Volvach with Brussels co-curator Francisca Vandepitte
- Featured artworks urgently evacuated from Kyiv after Russia's February 2022 invasion
- Toured five European venues: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (Madrid), Museum Ludwig (Cologne), Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Brussels), Belvedere (Vienna), Royal Academy of Arts (London)
- Drawn primarily from collections of National Art Museum of Ukraine and Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine in Kyiv
- Organized into eight thematic sections including Cubo-Futurism, Kultur Lige, Theater Design, Kharkiv, Boichukists, Venice Biennale, Kyiv Art Institute, and The Last Generation
- Highlights Ukrainian participation in 1928 and 1930 Venice Biennale as only Soviet republic with dedicated section
- Examines Soviet policies of Ukrainization in 1920s followed by 1930s repression accusing artists of formalism and nationalism
Entities
Artists
- Alexandra Exter
- Davyd Burliuk
- Kazymyr Malevych
- Issakhar Ber Ryback
- Sarah Shor
- Marko Epshtein
- El Lissitzky
- Vadym Meller
- Oleksandr Khvostenko-Khvostov
- Anatol Petrytskyi
- Maria Syniakova
- Vasyl Yermilov
- Mikhailo Boichuk
- Tymofii Boichuk
- Olexandr Bohomazov
- Picasso
- Braque
- Bronislava Nijinska
- Katarzyna Ruchel-Stockmans
Institutions
- Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Museum Ludwig
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
- Belvedere
- Royal Academy of Arts
- National Art Museum of Ukraine
- Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine
- Kultur Lige
- Ukrainian State Academy of Arts
- Kyiv Institute of Art
- Taras Shevchenko Theatre
- Berezil Theatre
- Venice Biennale
- Thames & Hudson
- ARTMargins Online
- Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
- The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
- The Belvedere
- The Royal Academy of Arts
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Cologne
- Germany
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Vienna
- Austria
- London
- United Kingdom
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Kharkiv
- Odessa
- Paris
- France
- Munich
- Cracow
- Białystok
- Saint Petersburg
- Russia
- Borisovka
- Moscow
- Vitebsk
- Leningrad
- Halychyna
- Galicia
- Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Second Polish Republic
Sources
- ARTMargins —
- ARTMargins —