Kiev's MOT: A Temporary Cultural Hub Made from Azovstal Steel

On February 17, 2023, Kiev inaugurated its first international art project since the Russian invasion: the Modulo della temporalità (MOT), a temporary cultural space in Kontraktova Square, Podil. Conceived by Don’t Take Fake (DTF Magazine), an agency promoting contemporary art in Ukraine for nearly 12 years, MOT consists of 27 shipping containers designed by Balbek Bureau. The steel comes from the Azovstal steelworks and the Mariupol metallurgical complex, aiming to draw global attention to Ukraine's cultural resilience. The space hosts film screenings, conferences, and an international exhibition curated by art critic Fabrice Bousteau featuring 28 artists from Ukraine, France, the United States, Switzerland, South Korea, Portugal, and India. Notable participants include Vhils (portraits of key Ukrainian figures), JR (a project with refugee child Valeriia, featured on TIME's cover), Zevs (a melting peace symbol on a Ukrainian flag), and Maria Kulikovska (works on femininity and forced migration). Proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise, and an artist auction will fund the restoration of war-damaged cultural heritage sites selected by the MOT team. After Kiev, the modular structure can be disassembled, transported, and reassembled in under ten days to travel worldwide.