Shcherbenko Art Centre

WINDOW GALLERY
KINDER ALBUM “RUSSIAN ECOCIDE IN UKRAINE”
THE OPENING – 29/06/2023

Shcherbenko Art Centre together with the Czech Center in Sofia (Bulgaria) present the exhibition of the artist Kinder Album “Russian ecocide in Ukraine”. The opening will take place on June 29 as part of the Window Gallery project. Early in the morning on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, Russian troops detonated explosives, causing the Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant in the Kherson region to rupture. The breach led to the flooding of around 80 settlements, resulting in the devastating destruction of houses, historical cultural landmarks, parks, farms, crops, agricultural equipment, roads, railway tracks, stations, and more. The affected residents were evacuated amidst horror and despair. This deliberate act of ecocide by Russian forces in their war against independent Ukraine has had far-reaching consequences. The powerful torrents of water carried the remnants of cities, tragically claiming the lives of people and animals. Fish, newts, and other river creatures perished in the now parched bottom of one of Ukraine’s largest reservoirs. The flooding caused significant damage to the diverse flora and fauna of the region, with some species facing the imminent threat of extinction.

The flooded minefields and drifting mines pose a significant danger. The water overtook the initial line of defense established by the Russian occupiers, which included mine-explosive barricades. Even during the flooding, Russian troops continued to shell cities in the region, further endangering the lives of people who were urgently evacuated. Throughout the year and a half of the full-scale war, the attackers committed numerous war crimes on Ukrainian soil, and the scale and consequences of this particular terrorist act are catastrophic.

In response to the ecocide in the Kherson region, Lviv artist Kinder Album created a piece called “Russian Ecocide in Ukraine.” The artist expressed surprise at the sunny weather and carefree atmosphere depicted in videos and photos showcasing the aftermath of the disaster. Scenes such as the partially submerged Nova Kakhovka Palace of Culture and swans swimming nearby reminded the artist of a Sorrentino film. However, the cheerful weather contrasted starkly with the feeling of despair caused by the news of animal deaths, sunken houses, and the other yet unknown but undoubtedly terrible consequences of Russia’s actions. The artist drew inspiration from Carroll’s “Alice” and the lake of tears, depicting the animals seen in the Nova Kakhovka videos and a girl swimming ahead of them as if indicating the way. The artwork aims to convey both the sunny weather and the apocalyptic nature of the flood.

“We specifically offered this Kinder Album project for the exhibition at the Window Gallery of the Czech Center in order to not only draw the viewer’s attention to the immense-scale horrific catastrophe with humanitarian and environmental consequences caused by Russian military criminals in Ukraine but also to highlight the growing issue of emotional resilience to horrors and losses experienced by Ukrainians throughout the ongoing war. It aims to shed light on the emerging tendency of perceiving news as a detached reality, devoid of deep emotional engagement and empathy.—added the curator Maryna Shcherbenko.

From the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Centre Sofia has expressed support for the cultural community and all the people of Ukraine. On May 12, the banner with words of support for the Ukrainian people was ripped down by vandals from the Centre’s window, which was the catalyst for the idea of opening a new ‘Window Gallery’.

Kinder Album
Born in 1982 in Lviv, Ukraine. Started working under the pseudonym Kinder Album via Facebook in 2012. Works in genres of painting, graphics, photography, installation, ceramics, video art and street art. She was nominated for Pinchuk Art Centre Prize 2015 and was the finalist of the Young Ukrainian Artists competition MUHi 2017 contest. Lives and works in Lviv.

Shcherbenko Art Centre
Created by Ukrainian curator Maryna Shcherbenko. The aim of the centre is to create opportunities for dialogue between the art world and a broad audience. Shcherbenko Art Centre arranges the exhibitions and works as a venue for lectures, panel discussions, workshops with leading masters of contemporary art in Ukraine and other countries.

Czech Centre in Sofia
The Czech Centre in Sofia is the oldest Czech culture institution abroad and is also one of the longest-running foreign cultural organizations in Bulgaria. Its history dates back to 1949, where from the very beginning it is located at the same address – Rakovski 100. The Czech Centres are a contributory organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. They are an integral part of Czech foreign policy and a key cultural diplomacy tool. They operate within the public diplomacy domain, whose mission is to promote and support the good reputation of the Czech Republic abroad and to strengthen cultural relations between countries.