Humanities Festival - LIZAVETA GERMAN - Counteroffensive of Exhibitions: The Ukrainian Art Scene Responds to War
Ukrainian artists have taken up the task of bearing witness to the Russian full-scale invasion, despite the obvious challenges they face: the wartime state apparatus has diverted resources from the cultural sector, leaving cultural workers to fill in the gaps; artists and curators are scattered across the country and abroad, some are serving in the armed forces. The Ukrainian cultural scene’s ability to survive in conditions that might seem adverse for making art did not arise overnight; its roots could be traced far back, whether to the Soviet 1960s, the early years of independence, or the post-Maidan era. Leading Ukrainian curator LIZAVETA GERMAN speaks with anthropologist TARAS FEDIRKO (University of Glasgow) about how to understand the Ukrainian art community today.