Piers Secunda's 'Nature Morte' Documents Russia's Cultural War on Ukraine
From 12 August to 6 September 2026, Fitzrovia Gallery in London will host 'Nature Morte: The Extermination of Ukraine,' an exhibition by British artist Piers Secunda. This showcase, the culmination of three years of investigation, delves into the impact of Russia's assault on Ukraine's cultural heritage through a series of paintings, a documentary film, and an archive. It features 21 still-life artworks depicting traditional Ukrainian cuisine, each accompanied by a QR code that directs viewers to evidence of war crimes, including the missile attack on Odesa Cathedral in 2023. The paintings incorporate ink made from charcoal gathered in Kharkiv by journalist Jerome Starkey. An infographic detailing 6,374 damaged cultural sites and a documentary by David Miller will also be included. Sales will contribute 15% towards the restoration of a 12th-century church in Kyiv.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Nature Morte: The Extermination of Ukraine' runs 12 August – 6 September 2026 at Fitzrovia Gallery, London.
- Features 21 still-life paintings with QR codes linking to evidence of cultural destruction.
- Paintings use ink made from charcoal from a destroyed government building in Kharkiv, gathered by Jerome Starkey.
- Infographic maps 6,374 points of damage to cultural sites in Ukraine.
- Includes a 40-minute documentary by David Miller.
- 15% of proceeds go to restoration of a 12th-century church at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
- Artist Piers Secunda has documented cultural destruction for 25 years, including work on ISIS and WWII.
- Secunda's work is in collections like the British Museum and UNESCO.
Entities
Artists
- Piers Secunda
- Jerome Starkey
- David Miller
Institutions
- Fitzrovia Gallery
- British Museum
- V&A Museum
- Ashmolean Museum
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Iraq National Museum
- Mosul Museum
- UNESCO
- UK Government Art Collection
- Chelsea College of Arts
- Channel 4
- Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Kharkiv
- Ukraine
- Odesa
- Baghdad
- Iraq
- Alderney
- New York
- United States
- Oxford