By: Kathy Wu
War is a complicated subject. It could be caused from conflict, hostility, struggle, you name it. For the current war going on in Ukraine, it’s culture. To understand the war, it’s important to understand the rich history of Ukrainian Culture.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, stands an easel right in front of the thousand-year-old Cathedral of Sain Sophia. This isn’t any simple painting. It reveals a skeptical 17th-century Cossack military commander brandishing his long gray beard. On top of his head is a basic red halo which shows this man’s humbled personality of many encounters – -Kyiv’s defeat by the Mongols, its occupation of Poland, and most importantly, its domination by the Soviet Union. It is not quite as luxurious as the famous Mona Lisa or the unique Lady in Gold, (A portrait of a woman decorated in gold and silver leaf) as it has only been painted on three planks of knotty wood. What we see here is a single painting representing the whole of an honest country, one of perseverance and courage. “It seems that this truth and justice, which is violated, simply explodes in people who create art. And I think that’s a huge part of why we’re going to win this war.” Dr. Anton Drobovych, a Ukraine official, said.
Designers in Reitarska Street are meeting the demand for a patriotic style of yellow and blue, in addition to renowned nightclubs and daytime dancing. It shows that the symbolism of art for Ukrainian people isn’t just representing history, rather a character of hope and unity.
“We have to do this,” Mr. Sergii Leshchenko, former member of the Ukraine Parliament, said. “War isn’t about death, war is about life.” Ukraine clearly shows us that where danger is close, the art of existence is closer.
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