From now until 10 September 2023, the Albertinum is dedicating a comprehensive survey exhibition to modern Ukrainian art. Titled ‘Kaleidoscope of (Hi)stories. Ukrainian Art 1912–2023’, the exhibition includes Maria Kulikovska’s ‘Soap Figure with Flowers’ (2019) which comes from the permanent collection of the Odesa Fine Arts Museum in Ukraine. The sculpture was also named one of The New York Times top 20 works of art in 2022.
It is the first of its kind in Germany and Europe. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, video works, graphic art and archives represent Ukrainian art from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. In the process, some of the exhibited works travel outside the country for the first time and provide insights into Ukraine's eventful history as well as its constant struggle for its own self-image.
The exhibition is conceived similar to a journey and consists of four main themes that overlap: "Practices of Resistance", "Culture of Memory", "Spaces of Freedom" and "Thoughts on the Future". In them, the current situation combines with historical processes and reveals individual experiences and personal stories. Each position represents a specific microcosm interwoven with the history of the country, its art and heritage. As a result, the complexity and diversity of today's Ukrainian art scene unfolds. The exhibition tells many stories about the country's fluctuating state. It deals with self-knowledge in Ukrainian history, which unfolds less out of pride than under external duress.
Kaleidoscope of (Hi)stories. Ukrainian Art 1912–2023
The Albertinum, Dresden, Germany
5 June – 10 September 2023
