By: Michael Chang
In July 2022, in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Russians are continuing their bombardments of Ukraine to erase Ukrainian independence and identity. Meanwhile, Ukraine is desperately trying to preserve its profound artistic culture.
At the thousand-year-old Cathedral of Saint Sophia, Leonid Maruschak recently painted a portrait of 17th-century Cossack military commander Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny on three wooden planks from an ammunition box found in Bucha, a bombarded suburb of Kyiv.
Maruschak and many other Ukrainian creators firmly believe that “this is a war about cultural identity” and that their creative works exemplify a culture that is determined to persist.
Additionally, throughout the streets of Kyiv, many statues are covered in fireproof blankets for blast protection. The level of caution around these statues expresses the importance of art and history in Ukraine.
Not only is cultural preservation occurring on the streets, but it is also apparent within the buildings of Kyiv. There are performances at Closer, one of the most popular nightclubs in Kyiv, and dancers are taking the stage in front of eager audiences at the National Opera House of Ukraine.
Furthermore, accomplished Ukrainian novelists are part of the preservation efforts. Olena Stiazhkina, a famous historian and novelist in Ukraine, described her efforts to creatively record the nuances of Ukrainian life, “I understood that I must be a witness, and that’s why I write a diary every day. And this time, I [will] finish it on the day of our victory.”
Like Stiazhkina, many other creative Ukrainian artists have similar confidence in survival and victory. Ukrainian philosopher Anton Drobovych believes, “It seems that this [violated] truth and justice … simply explodes in people who create art. And I think that’s a huge part of why we’re going to win this war.” With these words, Drobovych explains why he thinks Ukrainian culture is too influential and passionate to be erased by the war with Russia.
While enjoying Ukrainian nightlife at Closer, Serhiy Leshchenko, an advisor of Ukraine’s President Zelensky, emphasized, “We have to do this. War isn’t about death, [it] is about life.” As Ukraine continues to fight for the survival of its independence and culture, more artists will continue to produce creations filled with inspiration and hope.
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