An innovative exhibition is set to open at the Royal Academy of Arts this summer, exploring Modern art in Ukraine from 1900 to the 1930s. Titled “In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine,” the show promises to be the most comprehensive exhibition in the UK.
Spearheaded by the Crankstart Foundation and supported by The Reisman Foundation, The Natalia Cola Foundation, Christian Levett, and Musée FAMM, the exhibition will feature approximately 70 artworks, many loaned from venerable institutions such as the National Art Museum of Ukraine and the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine. Among the featured artists are luminaries like Alexander Archipenko, Sonia Delaunay, Alexandra Exter, and Kazymyr Malevych, alongside lesser-known yet equally influential figures such as Mykhailo Boichuk, Oleksandr Bohomazov and Vasyl Yermilov.
The exhibition sheds light on Ukraine’s complex historical context, which served as a crucible for artistic innovation amidst geopolitical upheaval. Ukraine’s status as a borderland, divided between empires, fostered a rich cultural fusion of Ukrainian, Polish and Russian influences. Against the backdrop of World War I, the revolutions of 1917, and the subsequent establishment of Soviet Ukraine, the early twentieth century saw a flourishing of artistic and literary experimentation unparalleled in Ukrainian history.
Structured into six thematic sections, the exhibition will explore the diverse artistic styles and cultural identities that emerged during this period. From the Cubo-Futurist movement to avant-garde theatre design and the synthesis of a blend of traditions with European avant-garde, the showcase aims to illuminate the multifaceted nature of Ukrainian modernism. It will also delve into the impact of Soviet rule on artistic expression, culminating in the imposition of socialist realism in the 1930s.
“In the Eye of the Storm” represents a concerted effort to elevate the profile of Ukrainian modernism on the international stage. Curated by a team of experts, including Konstantin Akinsha, Katia Denysova, Olena Kashuba-Volvach, and Ann Dumas, the exhibition promises to be a landmark event in the art world calendar.
Organised in collaboration with highly-respected institutions such as Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museum Ludwig, Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, Belvedere, and Museums for Ukraine, the exhibition underscores the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and historical understanding in shaping our appreciation of modern art. With exceptional loans from the National Art Museum of Ukraine and the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema of Ukraine, “In the Eye of the Storm” is poised to offer a captivating glimpse into a pivotal chapter of European modernism.
In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900–1930s The Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries 29 June – 13 October 2024