In the “Culture vs. War” exhibition, Ukrainian artists use their creativity to fight destruction in a battle for hearts and minds.
Serhiy Mikhalchuk is an award-winning cinematographer who has worked on many prestigious films during his career, including four Oscar-nominated films.
However, when Russia launched a full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine in late February 2022, the 51-year-old Ukrainian film director did not hesitate. He, along with tens of thousands of others, immediately volunteered to take up arms to defend the homeland from the invaders.
At the same time in early 2022, many other artists and creators were volunteering to protect Ukraine. Photographers, poets, musicians, writers and filmmakers lined up to join the fight to protect democracy and freedom in Ukraine.
creative community
Almost immediately, this creative community realized that it had to document the war crimes committed by the Russians. They decided to document the widespread atrocities and tell the story of the battle on the battlefield, so that the world and future generations would know about it. Each artist showed their talent while competing, and they didn’t miss a beat.
“We understood that every day could be our last,” said Alina Krasnianska, executive producer of the multimedia project “Culture vs. War.” She outlined the purpose of the project, which brings together the creative talents of many diverse artists.
“We knew we had to record it for a foreign audience, show the international community what was going on, and record it for the next generation,” she said. Told.
footage from the battlefield
The Culture vs. War experience includes video documentaries, photo exhibitions, print materials, literature, music, and more. The “Culture vs. War” photo exhibition features images of the front lines taken by Mikhalchuk and the husband-and-wife team of volunteer military photographers Vlada and Kostyantyn Liberov.
The documentary nature of their work is a representation of the war happening on the front lines. This photo exhibition conveys the overwhelming destructive power of the enemy invaders, the heroic fighting of the defenders, and the sadness and stress of the civilian casualties of the Russian invasion.
As top-notch professional creators and artists, their production values are second to none. Their photos are a witness to the deadly struggle of the Ukrainian people. The artistic techniques employed have a terrifying beauty that invites us to reflect on the essential humanity of those under attack, rather than viewing them as mere victims. These photos reflect the courage and dignity of the Ukrainian defenders, their bewilderment and despair, and above all their defiance and refusal to submit to the invasion.
Isn’t it ridiculous to be so creative (at such a high level) in the midst of life’s battles?
essential art
“It’s not absurd,” Arena said, pointing to other examples of creativity during turbulent times. “It is a historical fact that French musical theater flourished during the French Revolution in the 18th century.” Many writers were born from the French Revolution, and this documentary work on the Ukraine war is not an easy art, but it is necessary. And essential.
“We’re knocking on different doors,” Arena explained of the conceptual approach. Some people prefer news, others prefer videos. Some people are easier to reach through poetry, others through music. Through “Culture Vs War”, the Ukrainian creative community is leaving no stone unturned with the goal of reaching as many people as possible. “And just like that, it worked out,” Arena said.