Ukraine: The Latest US to take Zelensky’s peace plan to Russia & From Trenches to Trailblazers - Ukraine’s Art Revolution
Dec 24, 2025
Bjorn Geldhoff, a jury member for the prestigious Pinchuk Art Centre Prize, discusses the selection process and highlights the resilience of contemporary Ukrainian art amid the war. Lesya Vasilchenko, an acclaimed artist and prize winner, shares insights about her installation that delves into Ukrainian memory and the night, evoking emotional reactions from viewers. The conversation explores the transformative power of art for mental health, the solidarity within the artistic community, and how creativity continues to thrive in turbulent times.
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Ukrainian Modernism's National Turn
- Early 20th-century Ukrainian modernism became explicitly national and patriotic, led by figures like Mykhailo Boichuk and Alexander Bohomazov.
- The movement fused modernist forms with Ukrainian motifs before Soviet repression curtailed it.
Bohomazov's Tragic Career And Rediscovery
- Butterwick tells Bohomazov's personal story: a late-blooming romance with Wanda catalysed his creative peak before his early death.
- Many works stayed hidden in family flats, hindering international recognition until recent exhibitions.
Contested Artist National Identities
- Claims over artists' national identity are complex; some like Bohomazov are clearly Kyiv-based, while others such as Malevich provoke debate.
- National reclamation of artists becomes part of wartime cultural strategy and identity building.