Winnipeg art exhibit showcases brutal realities of war in Ukraine: ‘People are still dying’
Posted September 25, 2022 5:51 pm.
Last Updated September 25, 2022 5:59 pm.
A pop-up exhibit in Winnipeg is showcasing 50 art pieces from Ukrainian contemporary artists, describing the gruesome realities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Saturday, Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre hosted the “War in Living Colour” exhibit during the city’s Nuit Blanche event.
Artist Veronika Kotyk illustrated children’s books for her job. But when the invasion happened in February, she says she had to draw the brutal things she was seeing.
“Some artists are showing their personal experiences, which is important. It is unique,” said Kotyk. “You won’t gather this experience, so we need to gather this and showcase them. Other artworks show what Ukrainians in general feel. What do they think of Putin? Ukrainian Army? Russian Army? And that’s important too.”
“War in Living Colour” art exhibit in Winnipeg. (Credit: CityNews/Alex Karpa)
The exhibit featured artwork from Pictoric, a Kyiv-based illustrators’ collective founded in 2014. The exhibit travelled throughout Canada this summer, making stops in Ottawa and Vancouver.
“They’re quite neat because they were drawn in real time since Russia invaded on February 24,” said organizer Sofia Kominko.
Kominko says around 350 people visited the exhibit on Saturday and raised more than a $1,000.
“In different cities, we fundraise for different causes depending on who we are working and organizing with,” said Kominko. “Here at Oseredok, all of the proceeds from last night’s event are going to English classes that Oseredok runs for newcomers, Ukrainians here in Winnipeg.
Chrystia Chudczak from Ottawa has taken more than 25,000 photos of the Ukrainian community since the war began. She says there has been a lot of emotion documenting everything over the course of the war.
“From the beginning of the war, it was passion, disbelief, it was horrific-ness, it was just horrible,” said Chudczak. “People then got defined and angry. You can see it in the rallies and demonstrations that were done in the core.”
Kotyk says it’s important to showcase these artworks and educate people on what is happening in Ukraine.
“We just want to remind people that the war didn’t end,” she said. “Ukrainian people are still dying, and we need to talk about it.
“The war is continuing, and we need help.”
