Shcherbenko Art Center: Kyiv institution persists through war
Established in 2012 as a branch of Bottega Gallery (2008-2015), the Shcherbenko Art Center in Kyiv stands as a significant contemporary art hub in Ukraine. Although it continues to function in a limited capacity due to the Russian invasion, founder Maryna Shcherbenko notes that earlier themes revolved around identity, gender, and politics, while current initiatives address the effects of war. With the gallery in Kyiv closed, the center is working on a worldwide exhibition to capture the war's narrative. Despite obstacles like resource scarcity and language issues, interest in contemporary art is on the rise among Ukrainians. Shcherbenko also criticizes Russia's use of art for propaganda, advocating for international cultural cooperation to safeguard memory and heritage.
Key facts
- Shcherbenko Art Center founded in 2012 as offshoot of Bottega Gallery (2008-2015)
- Located on Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine
- Pre-war themes: gender, identity, feminism, queer issues, social conflicts, Anthropocene, ecology, politics
- Since full-scale Russian invasion, all projects address war
- Kyiv gallery closed; team dispersed across countries
- Developing worldwide exhibition project documenting war
- Interest in contemporary art among Ukrainians grows yearly
- Russia uses art as propaganda tool, appropriating cultural figures to erase national identities
- Ukrainian cultural products high-quality but limited resources and global integration
- Museums in occupied territories looted and destroyed by Russian invaders
Entities
Artists
- Maryna Shcherbenko
Institutions
- Shcherbenko Art Center
- Bottega Gallery
- Artribune
Locations
- Kyiv
- Ukraine
- Independence Square
- Russia