5 Ukrainian Art Accounts You Can Follow Now On Instagram

Social media gives us an almost immediate response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but some of the most impressive responses I’ve seen have come from young Ukrainian artists who have managed to make new work documenting as events unfolded.

Below are four accounts, one by Ukrainian Americans, one currently in Austria, and the rest by Ukrainian artists who are still in the country.

I’m also following the wave of New York-based charity, among them the Moldovan-born artist. Alexandra BorovskiSale of beautiful, obsessive ink drawings to assist the American artist Clemens Poole Ferry relief supplies from Poland. a collective called SpilkaCo-founded by Ukrainian-American multimedia artist Betty Roytburdreaches isolated Ukrainians overlooked by larger aid groups and organizes Ukrainian food-themed fundraisers in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Ekaterina Lisovenko @lisovenko_ekaterina

Painter Ekaterina Lisovenko recently adopted the Russian slogan “mozhem povtorit” We can literally “repeat” a reference to the Soviet victory over the Nazis in WWII, revived in hopes of convincing the Russian people that the war in Ukraine was a similarly heroic attempt. Lisovenko posted a single image four times. Supine, yellowish, somewhat isolated figures on a dark gray background with the caption “A woman raped and murdered and her murdered child”, assigned to four different Russian invasions – the present one; The attacks on the Donbas region in 2014; the occupation of the Republic of Georgia in 2008; and the first Chechen war. It’s a shocking, highly effective way of reminding us what’s really at stake when we talk about sanctions, negotiations, and unity movements.

Asia Bazdyrieva @asiabazdyrieva

For the past six or seven weeks, writer Asia Bazdyrieva has been keeping an online diary, mostly in English, from a location outside of Kyiv. Posted in white sans-serif lettering on a black background, like the iPhone notes set for low light, the diary captures the mind-blowing dissonance of life in a war zone. an entry notes that Bazdyrieva slept for seven hours, supplied Molotov cocktails to the Territorial Defense Forces, and repotted a plant; The title of another, which uses the term “Russian roulette”, is “Felt cute can delete it later” It is impossible to reconcile the different tones and that is exactly what makes the diary so evocative.

Andrey Rachinskiy @andrey_rachinskiy

Before the invasion, new media artist Andrey Rachinskiy was doing photography and video work with his longtime collaborator Daniil Revkovskiy on strange corners of post-Soviet reality, as well as a fascinating exploration of the duel between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian graffiti in his own writings. native city Kharkiv. Now Rachinskiy is in Lviv, buying piles of food, diapers, and medical supplies to send home – and he’s keeping the piles with the handsome guy, heartbreaking photos. His feed is also a good place to find some of the billboards Ukraine has erected for the occupiers, for example he tells them: “We are in our land but you will be in it”

Ukrainian Modernism @ukrainianmodernism

Before the war, this popular account run by photographer and educator Dmitro Soloviov dedicated to the celebration sharp corners and enormous chandeliers One of the largest 20th century buildings in Ukraine. Now their getting chronic severe destructionas well as creating resources for the preservation of cultural assets such as Stained glass in Kyiv Funicular – and encouragement architectural tours Soloviov is leading even now. Unfortunately images of bombed buildings are easy enough to find, but the context of Soloviov’s description turns them into something a little different. Not only does it add to the record of airstrikes against apartments and other civilian targets, it’s that important. He also found a way to imagine that it is more difficult to account for the cultural damage that comes with the loss of life and property.

Ukrainian Artists @ukrainianartists

Run by Ukrainian American muralist Maya Hayuk Under the auspices of a new activist group called Ukrainian Artists and Allies, this feed slowly but steadily publishes excellent works by a number of Ukrainian artists. (“To encourage and celebrate artistic survival,” says UAA co-founder Katrina Majkut“it is an act of political defiance.”) Some of the best pieces ever beautiful expressionist painting sword-wielding heroic naked by ex-graphic designer Iryna Maksimova and one series of graphic engraving-like images by Oleg Gryshchenko those using the sky blue and sunflower yellow of the Ukrainian flag as the background. work with Ukrainian Institute of Modern ArtUkrainian Artists and Allies also recently launched a massive fundraising campaign. Pretentiousuntil April 14.