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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘You'll never save the world with art, but it will help you survive': artist calls on Ukraine to promote its culture
Unlike younger men, who must stay in Ukraine in case they are mobilised into the army, Pavlo Makov, 66, could leave the country if he wanted. Instead, the artist, one of Ukraine's most senior and respected cultural figures, is living in Kharkiv, his hometown. Situated about 18 miles from the Russian border, Ukraine's second city suffers brutal missile attacks night after night – only to spring to life in the daytime, when parks, cafes and restaurants fill up with those brave or stubborn enough to cling on to life here. Kharkiv is a city where cultural activity takes place on ground floors or – even better – underground, in basement bars, theatres and bookshops. Makov and his wife are among those who take their chances. The nearest Metro station, which would offer protection from raids, is 500m away, 'and most of the attacks on Kharkiv are so fast that as soon as you hear the sound of the alarm the bombs have already fallen'. And so, they put in ear plugs and lay a bet with death that they will survive the night. He and his family escaped Kharkiv and lived for a time in Italy at the beginning of the war in 2022. But, like many Ukrainians, he found living away from home more stressful than being present, despite the bombs. 'I could have stayed in Italy but realised I was losing my senses. After six months you lose the ability to understand what you are doing there. When we came back I immediately I thought: 'OK, I'm in my place.'' Makov has recently renovated a new studio in the city. It is on the ground floor: less vulnerable to air attack than his old, fourth-floor place. Its windows are small for an artist's studio – but practical for a city where glass gets blown out of buildings every day. On an easel is a large, bold new drawing in vivid shades of emerald and orange – a departure for Makov who, for years, has worked mostly in highly intricate monochrome prints and graphite pencil. It is a drawing of a somewhat battered urban weed that grows in the cracks in the pavement. 'It's exactly how I feel myself now: a bit ruined but still alive,' Makov said. The weed is a kind of plantain, different species of which grow across the world. In Ukraine, this humble plant is often applied to bruises or scrapes as a folk remedy. Its name, podorozhnyk, literally translates as 'by the road' – a state of being for the many Ukrainians who are dealing with being displaced, or the threat of being made homeless by a shifting frontline or falling bombs. 'We all have this feeling that we are living from suitcases,' Makov said. His rucksack always stands by the door, packed with his vital documents and ready for a swift departure. The image of this plant, and its metaphorical power, was a way of tackling the overwhelming subject of war indirectly, he said. 'The language of war is so strong, so powerful. It is so enormous that none of us can compete with its power,' he said. 'But at the same time, art exists. It has always existed. They were using it in caves to explain the world, to find a connection with the world. You'll never save the world with it – but it will help you survive your life.' When the invasion began on 24 February 2022, Makov, like other artists in the city, took refuge in Kharkiv's contemporary art gallery, the Yermilov Centre, which is in the concrete basement of a university building. He was due to represent his country at the Venice Biennale – the art world's most prestigious regular international gathering, which opened in April of that year. But sheltering from the bombings, he abandoned all thoughts of making it to Italy – until one of the project's curators called him and told him she had part of his artwork in her car, she was already in Vienna, and she was determined to show something for her country, come what may. The next morning Makov and his family made their escape, racing to their car as a cruise missile hit the nearby headquarters of the SBU security service. One of his tyres got a puncture owing to the broken glass strewing the roads. He had to make an emergency return dash to his mother's flat, because she had forgotten her false teeth. But the family and their pets made it out. And he did end up representing Ukraine at the Venice Biennale. But it was no thanks to the Ukrainian government, he said. 'I got two telephone calls from the ministry of culture of Italy, asking whether we needed some help. And no phone call from from the ministry of culture of Ukraine. 'It was like we didn't exist,' he said. 'OK, there was a war. But if you're the ministry of culture, your war is there, in the world of culture.' The Ukrainian gallery with whom he works, The Naked Room, is still out of pocket because of the event 'because we got no support from the state' beyond the hiring of the space in which the exhibition was held. Compared with Russia, which projects itself internationally via its literature, music, ballet and opera, Ukraine was way behind on promoting itself through culture, he said. There is no museum of contemporary art in the country. 'We have a unique situation, now,' he said. 'For the first time in the history of Ukraine, three generations of artists are alive, not killed, and the art they produced has not been destroyed.' It was evidence of a kind of 'provincialism', he said, 'a kind of disrespect to yourself', not to have built such an institution in an independent Ukraine. 'Why am I interested in Great Britain? Not because it won this war or lost this war, it is because Turner is British and I love Turner. Why do I love Ireland? Because James Joyce is one of my favourite writers.' 'In Ukraine we don't have any kind of vision of how to represent Ukraine as a cultural society. We have writers, we have poets, we have we have all these things that we can export, but nobody's doing that. All our cultural exporting is based on volunteer movements.' Ukrainian society had been changed for ever by the war, he said Huge population shifts had been caused by internal displacement and by trauma, but also through the great divides opening up between individuals, based on their very different experiences during the war: soldiers living through a hellish trench warfare on the front, compared with those far behind the lines or those based abroad. Even so, he said, 'We all have one general idea: we need the end of the war. Better, a victory, but at least some kind of stable peace.' But like many others in Ukraine, he finds it hard to envision, under the current circumstances, how that might be achieved. 'Normally a stable peace comes if your enemy is destroyed. And I can't imagine that we can destroy Russia, somehow. Russia has a lot of fat under the skin.' 'This drama has been going on now for over three years. It will soon have been going on for as long as the second world war. And I don't think that people understand Russians will never stop unless they are stopped. If they're not stopped, they will never stop.'
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin Ups His Efforts To Wipe Out Ukrainian Culture In Schools, UK Says
Russia wants to stop Ukrainian children in occupied Ukraine from learning their native language, according to the UK. In Vladimir Putin's latest bid to impose Russian culture on his European neighbours, the president plans to remove Ukrainian from school curriculums in the parts of the beleaguered country he is still illegally occupying. According to the most recent estimates, Russia holds 19% of Ukraine's sovereign land. That's roughly the same size of the US state of Ohio. This education policy is likely to primarily impact Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, but may also affect Crimea, annexed by Russia a decade ago, as well as Luhansk and Donetsk. The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) explained in its latest update on social media that this is part of a wider long-standing 'Russification policy' which aims to 'extirpate Ukrainian culture, identity and statehood'. Pointing to a Russian Education Ministry Order covered in open-source reporting, the MoD said the changes will come in from September 2025 and are supposedly the result of the 'changed geopolitical situation'. The officials said: 'This follows reported long-term Russian efforts to reduce and eliminate the Ukrainian language in schools in other illegally occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea.' Putin has also demanded protections for the Russian language 'within unoccupied territories of Ukraine', according to the MoD. The intelligence summary concluded: 'The Russian Education Ministry's plans as reported amount to a further addition to the senior leadership's long-standing Russification policy in illegally occupied Ukrainian territory.' Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 18 July out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: 🇺🇦 — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) July 18, 2025 The update suggests that Putin has no intention of winding down his aggression against Ukraine, despite Donald Trump's best efforts to end the three-year war. The US president warned earlier this week that America would impose 100% tariffs on Russian exports to the States unless Moscow stopped its assault on Ukraine within the next 50 days. The US president has also agreed to send US Patriot missiles to Ukraine, although they will be paid for by the European Union. 'I haven't agreed on the number yet but they're going to have some because they do need protection,' Trump said. But Putin continues to press on with the war, dismissing the US threats – just last week, the MoD said Russia was even 'increasing the pace of gains' in Ukraine. Moscow has been cracking down on Ukrainian culture for some time, too. In March, Putin signed a decree forcing Ukrainian nationals in any land Russia currently controls to 'settle their legal status' by September 10, 2025. If they miss that deadline, they will be forced to leave. Related... Russia 'Increasing Pace Of Gains' In Ukraine Despite Trump's Peace Plea, Says UK Former Russian PM Says Putin Could Be Forced To End The Ukraine War This Year Trump Just Called Out Putin's 'Bulls***' – But Don't Expect Anything To Change In Ukraine
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘It reminds me of home': Ukrainian DJ day parties hit Jasper Ave. this summer
Jorgia Lindquist, right, said the parties are an opportunity to bring Ukrainian vibrancy to Edmonton. July 16, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton) For those who aren't flying to Europe this summer, a Ukrainian coffee shop and kitchen on Jasper Avenue is bringing European vibes to Edmonton. This summer, DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen is hosting daytime DJ parties every Tuesday to kickstart the morning in a high-energy way. The parties are inspired by Ukrainian culture, where daytime parties and energy hours spill into the streets of places like Kyiv. 'It's really loud and vibrant … I think Edmonton really wants that energy, that power,' said Jorgia Lindquist, co-founder of DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen. DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen on Jasper Avenue, where a dancing perogy can be seen through the window on July 16, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton) She said that while so many Ukrainians are having to move away from their home, DJ parties are an opportunity to make newcomers feel welcome. 'It reminds me of home,' said University of Alberta student Khrystyna Shipka. Shipka, who's originally from Ukraine, said that while it may be 'unusual' for Canadians, the concept is to give people a boost of energy throughout the work week. The kickoff event on Wednesday saw a DJ lineup from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., local non-alcoholic beverages, Red Bull and samples from DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen. It also featured a perogy DJ, Sofiia Stoliarenko, who could be seen dancing along to pop hits and remixes behind her makeshift DJ booth. Sofiia, DON'YA kitchen Sofiia Stoliarenko was the perogy DJ of the kickoff party on July 16, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton) 'I don't like going to parties, but this is my kind of party,' she said. 'I'm excited. I want more people to see us, definitely.' DON'YA is operated entirely by Ukrainians who are starting new lives in Jasper Avenue location opened mid-April. Lindquist said the hope is that the DJ parties will remind Edmontonians of how vibrant downtown life can be. 'We're a community that loves to support local, we're a community that loves to have fun,' she said. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTV News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Ukrainian heritage on display at Poltava Ukrainian Pavilion during Mosaic festival
The Poltava Ensemble performs at the Poltava Ukrainian Pavilion, part of the annual Mosaic Festival of Cultures. (Gareth Dillistone / CTV News) It was a true display of Ukrainian culture showcased at the first night of the Poltava Ukrainian Pavillion at the Regina Performing Arts Centre The pavilion is part of the 2025 Mosaic Multicultural Festival. Members of the Poltava School of Dance, along with an ensemble and live orchestra, wowed a crowed of attendees with traditional performances. 'There are approximately 35 dancers. Eight to 10 boys and a lot of girls,' said Dion Tchorzewski, the Ambassador of the Poltava Ukrainian Pavilion. 'Our orchestra was actually founded in 1921. We have an orchestra with our organization for over 100 years and it's continued from there,' he explained. Attendees also had a chance to taste some traditional Ukrainian food. 'People come for our food. We make all our own perogies. We start early in the year and we make them every couple of weeks. Thousands at a time. We have our cabbage rolls, some amazing desserts,' Tchorzewski added. Tchorzewski said the festival is great way for residents of Regina to become immersed in the Ukrainian culture. 'I'm just happy to have everybody come, experience the culture with us. Everybody is welcome in Poltava.' One attendee echoed that sentiment. 'I like learning the new culture. I want to try new food. I like doing that, but it's just a good way to bring my culture to Regina and just experience new things,' explained Keyera Santbergen-Newstead. The Poltava Ukrainian Pavilion will be at the Regina Performing Arts Centre all weekend long with performances running every hour.
CTV News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
UFest brings Ukrainian culture to Borden Park
Ukrainian flags can be seen at UFest in Borden Park on May 31, 2025. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton) Western Canada's largest Ukrainian festival set up in Borden Park on Saturday. The sixth-annual UFest runs until 11 p.m., featuring close to 1,200 local and national Ukrainian performers on the outdoor stage. 'It's definitely special, because we have a lot of newcomers that have come to Canada in the last few years and then a lot of them are here today, so it's really great for them to come and get a little taste of home,' said organizer Stephan Bociurkiw. 'And it's not just Ukrainians,' he added. 'Everyone is welcome here. We want to share our Ukrainian culture with everyone.' UFest 2025 Visitors can be seen at UFest in Borden Park on May 31, 2025. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton) The festival is free to attend. Alongside music and dancing, visitors can find 16 food vendors, more than 30 artisan market vendors and a licensed bar selling wine, beer and cider. Anyone wanting a more hands-on experience could also take part in one of multiple cultural workshops, such as learning traditional bread techniques or how to make Ukrainian beaded necklaces. This year, UFest partnered with the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to collect donations to support programs for vulnerable Ukrainian children.
