The Pinchuk Art Centre reopens on July 16—143 days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It features a significant exhibition with over 45 artists, two thirds of which are worldwide and one third Ukrainian, in collaboration with and with gratitude to Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA) and the Flemish Government. This reopening highlights Ukraine as a nation that is open to the rest of the world and celebrates its strong roots and connection to Europe.
Due to their emancipatory and liberating qualities, M HKA’s selection of works was chosen for the exhibition. They are discussed in relation to Ukrainian artists’ creations, many of which date from the conflict. The end result is a place that encourages us to feel, ponder, and contemplate on things other than the urgent needs of war.
More than 40 pieces by artists from throughout the world are being lent. Despite the fact that the collection cannot be insured against war-related damage, M HKA and the Flemish Government decided to pool their funds and invest a sizeable portion of their cultural heritage in Ukraine.
With this show, PinchukArtCentre, M HKA, and the Flemish Government are demonstrating their shared conviction that we must enable art to empower, exist, and interact with those in need the most. One can stay in touch with their humanity through art, which also offers a safe haven for vulnerability, fantasy, and dreams.
“This is a risk we willingly take,” says Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon, “in this way we can express our solidarity with Ukraine and our ambition to deepen our relation with the country.”
From the M HKA collection there are amongst others works from Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin, Francis Alÿs, Babi Badalov, James Lee Byars, Jan Cox, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Jan De Lauré, Marlene Dumas, Jan Fabre, Sheela Gowda, Hiwa K, Barbara Kruger, Kerry James Marshall, Almagul Menlibayeva, Otobong Nkanga, ORLAN, Wilhelm Sasnal, Allan Sekula, Adrien Titriaux, Luc Tuymans and Ben Vautier.
From Ukraine there are works from among others Oksana Chepelyk, Danylo Galkin, Nikita Kadan, Lesia Khomenko, Vlada Ralko, Oleksii Sai, Andriy Sagaidakovsky, Yevhen Samborsky, Anna Zvyagintseva and group of Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei. Some of their works are vintage, like an Andriy Sagaidakovsky painting from the early 1990s that has a Ukrainian landscape with the words “Sometimes man is tired very much and wants to sleep a lot” and is painted entirely in black and grey. A moving observation on how worn out the battle has become. Others succeeded in producing art during the conflict, producing pieces that immediately reflect and respond.
The exhibition is curated by Bart De Baere, Björn Geldhof, Ksenia Malykh, Yarema Malashukh and Roman Himey, with curatorial advice by Jan De Vree and the collection staff for the M HKA side.
PinchukArtCentre
1/3-2, “А” Block, Velyka Vasylkivska/Baseyna Str.
Kyiv
01004
Ukraine