Artwork by: Alevtyna Shvetsova, Serhiy Makarov, Yana Gryniv
Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister stories
"Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister histories" is a project from a series of conceptual art projects curated by Yana Gryniv, which unite different people, artistic directions, are complemented by discussions involving artists, art institutions, cultural spaces, public organizations, activists, diplomats. In the long term, these projects form the image of Ukraine; in the short term, they can save the lives of those who are fighting for freedom for the world at the front, because with the collected funds we purchase medical tourniquets to save lives in Ukraine.
A series of broadcasts and interviews in Ukrainian, Polish and German about the exhibition were made thanks to the cooperation with journalist and commentator Anton Marczyński on the Ukrainian Service of Polish Radio in Warsaw and Der Auslandsdienst des Polnischen Rundfunks. In Ukraine, the exhibition was covered by journalist Vasyl Korotky for Ukrinform. A series of discussions and events held in Vienna and Lviv attracted a number of experts and focused on highlighting the theme of the exhibition.
The exhibition was organized within the framework of conceptual art with a focus on cultural diplomacy. We also raised the issue of memory and commemoration, taking into account the need to avoid re-traumatization. It was important to form a vision of the exposition and a series of events that would fully convey the essence of the exhibition, but would not cause repeated traumatic experiences for those who experienced the war. Finding a balance between art and reality was also an important issue for me.
The two similar histories of Mariupol and Gdańsk in different time periods show the twin cities as a symbol of the struggle for freedom and the courage of the defenders. The project tells the story of ordinary people whose lives have stagnated, but who have found the inner strength for revival, about Gdansk, which once flourished, was destroyed by the war, but was also revived, about Mariupol, which will still discover and realize its renaissance. Ukrainian and Polish artists collaborated to create watercolors, photographs, video works and collages depicting Mariupol and Gdańsk.
The presentation of the exhibition project "Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister histories" took place in the Gallery of the Polish Institute in Vienna. The event was organized by the Polish Institute in Vienna, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the OSCE, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the OSCE, and the art platform Art Contact Ukraine. The exhibition was opened by: Monika Szmigiel-Turlej, Director of the Polish Institute of Vienna, Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbalyuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to International Organizations in Vienna.
Artists (Vienna): Karol Nienartowicz, Dmytro Kozatskyi, Danylo Movchan, Zoya Laktionova, Anastasiia Dmytruk, Andriy Hupsa, Alevtyna Shvetsova, Serhiy Makarov, Yehor Kravtsov, Yevhen Sosnovsky, Yana Gryniv
Curated by: Yana Gryniv, founder of Art Contact Ukraine
Time: 5.12-24.01.2024
Location: p_art Galerie, Polnisches Institut Wien, Am Gestade 7, 1010, Vienna
Time: 16.03-16.04.2024
Location: Mariupol Reborn platform, Lviv
Time: 01.08-22.08.2024
Location: Mariupol Reborn platform, Dnypro
News coverage: PolskieRadio, Ukrinform, Ukrainian House Vienna, Mariupol Reborn, Mariupol Reborn video, Ukraine Art News, 0629, exclusiveua, my.статті, Zbruc, Polnisches Institut Wien.
We are featured at
the Ukrainian Service of Polish Radio in Warsaw
Alevtyna Shvetsova arrived from Lviv to take part in this discussion and to share a very important story. She survived the occupation of Mariupol, evacuated her family, and now is engaged in cultural projects dedicated to Mariupol. The exhibition “Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister stories” features her project "Portraits of Mariupol", which tells stories about strong people. These are ordinary people, like any of us, but with the war their lives changed and they found an enormous strength to fight for their country and their families.
In the discussion Monika Szmigiel-Turlej, director of the Polish Institute in Vienna, focused on cultural diplomacy and commemoration of the tragic day of the 24.02 – the day of the full-scale Russian invasion into Ukraine. This exhibition reflects the culture of war memory. While in Russia it means "Victory! We can repeat!", in Europe we talk about "Never again!". ⚫ We talked about the importance of working with the traumatic experience of war, combining retrospective and contemporary, and how this issue can be raised through art. ⚫ As part of this exhibition, we raise the issue of cultural de-occupation based on overcoming traumatic experiences. We talk about a very tough topic through art and culture. ⚫ As Alevtyna mentioned during the discussion: "The first thing the occupants did in Mariupol was to take down all the key cultural monuments and sights." The goal of the Russians is to destroy our cultural identity, to destroy Ukrainians. ⚫ She showed us a piece of the candelabra from the Mariupol drama theater, where more than 600 women and children were killed by a russian bomb. ⚫ Alevtyna said that after having survived the occupation of Mariupol, she lives her every day as if it's the last day of her life. She also mentioned, that she is doing everything possible to bring that piece of the candelabra from the Mariupol drama theater back to Mariupol, to the free Mariupol.
The “Mariupol-Gdańsk” discussion was organized in cooperation with and sponsored by the Polish Institute in Vienna.
On March 16, 2024, the exhibition "Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister histories" was opened in Lviv. The event was organized in cooperation with the "Misto Marii" team, which since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation has been implementing cultural initiatives in Ukraine and the world, telling about the tragedy of Mariupol and the fate of its residents.
Artists: Dmytro Kozatskyi, Alevtina Shvetsova, Serhiy Makarov, Anastasia Dmytruk, Danylo Movchan, Karol Nenartovych, Andriy Gupsa, Yehor Kravtsov, Yevhen Sosnovsky, Bohdan Pylyponiuk, Yana Gryniv.
At the opening a small talk was held with the participation of event organizers, artists, community representatives from Mariupol, Lviv, Gdansk and Vienna.
The discussion featured:
Yana Hryniv, artist, curator of the Mariupol-Gdańsk exhibition;
Denis Kochubey, deputy mayor of Mariupol;
Tetyana Lomakina, advisor - authorized representative of the President of Ukraine on barrier-free issues;
representatives of Gdańsk: Paulina Bone (sub-inspector of the Office of the City Architect), Lev Zakharchyshyn (Solidarity Center);
Danylo Movchan, artist, icon painter (Lviv);
Yevhen Sosnovsky, photographer;
Iryna Novosyadlo, head of the Lviv organization of the Association of Defenders' Families "Azovstal";
Maria Vyskorko, the founder of the NGO "History in Hands";
moderated by: Alevtyna Shvetsova, co-organizer of the exhibition, "Misto Marii"
On August 1-22, 2024, the exhibition "Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister histories" will take place in Dnipro. The event will be organized in cooperation with the "Misto Marii" team, which since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation has been implementing cultural initiatives in Ukraine and the world, telling about the tragedy of Mariupol and the fate of its residents.
Artists: Dmytro Kozatskyi, Alevtina Shvetsova, Serhiy Makarov, Anastasia Dmytruk, Danylo Movchan, Karol Nenartovych, Andriy Gupsa, Yehor Kravtsov, Yevhen Sosnovsky, Daniil Nemyrovsky, Oleg Kira, Nelly Mynasova, Yana Gryniv.
On August 1-22, 2024, the exhibition "Mariupol-Gdańsk: sister cities, sister histories" was opened in Dnipro. The event was organized in cooperation with the "Misto Marii" team, which since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation has been implementing cultural initiatives in Ukraine and the world, telling about the tragedy of Mariupol and the fate of its residents. "Mariupol Reborn" platform in Dnipro hosted the exhibition.
Artists: Dmytro Kozatskyi, Alevtina Shvetsova, Serhiy Makarov, Anastasia Dmytruk, Danylo Movchan, Karol Nenartovych, Andriy Gupsa, Yehor Kravtsov, Yevhen Sosnovsky, Daniil Nemyrovsky, Oleg Kira, Nelli Mynasova, Yana Gryniv.
Foro credits: Nataliia Revutska
Be the first to know!
Join our email list and get access to specials deals exclusive to our subscribers.