We recently enjoyed an evening on Ukrainian art which for the past few years has been on display in many cities around Europe with last one being in London in 2024. This exhibition aptly named ‘ In The Eye of The Storm ‘ would not have happened without the ongoing tragedy of the invasion of Ukraine. The art work which dates back to between 1900 and 1930 was smuggled out of Ukraine in disguised lorries in 2022.
It represents a second front of cultural resistance and solidarity with Ukraine.
There are various themes to the displays.
It emerged from turbulent times and focuses on the various aspects of Modernism; Cubism, Futurism, Expressionism, Constructionism and abstraction. It is very colourful, dynamic and intriguing. It represents landscapes, folk art, traditions from the countryside, theatre costume designs, journal covers, chess, portraits and Pogroms. It is a combination of Ukrainian, Russian art, Polish and Yiddish influences which all came together to create the Modernism that this exhibition represents.
This period of Modernism came to an abrupt end when Stalin came into power and the only type of art that was allowed was socialist realism showing farm workers and peasants at work in the fields or wearing traditional dress.
Any resistance to this led to artists being persecuted, forced to leave Ukraine or arrested and sent to the Gulags. Some were executed.
The following You Tube video covers many aspects of the exhibition. It is an excellent presentation.
In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine 1900-1930s at The Royal Academy