By Lacity
The Wall, a patriotic art project, brings together Ukrainian and international artists to create murals in five cities to show unity and opposition to the aggressor country. The first in the series was a mural in Vienna, created in collaboration with Ukrainian Nikita Kravtsov and Frenchman Vincent Paronneau.
The Wall is a symbol of resistance, stability, and protection that keeps Europe safe from war. But the project’s call is bigger – it is associated with the iconic Pink Floyd album, a rock opera that tells the story of a hero fenced off from the rest of the world by a wall behind which he fights evil. The art project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education.
The organizers invited well-known Ukrainian and international artists to create the murals. This action recreates the organic nature of cooperation and community between European countries and Ukraine, and breathes freedom and expression of will.
“The murals are our response to Russia’s barbaric aggression on the cultural front in the war that Putin has unleashed. The policy of destroying and eliminating Ukrainian identity is one of the key elements of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In our temporarily occupied territories, Russian invaders are closing Ukrainian schools and imposing their language and history. Just as they have been doing for centuries against the Crimean Tatars, whose cultural heritage, history, and traditions were simply denied. If somewhere the invaders cannot physically roll up their collar, they simply resort to terror. Thus, since February 24, the Russian invaders have destroyed 87 religious sites, 13 museums, 38 historical buildings, 38 cultural buildings, 18 monuments, 10 libraries, and 2660 educational institutions. The list is growing every day. Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for the right to exist, but also defends its right to be a member of the European family,” said Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
As part of the art project, murals will also be created in Berlin, Geneva, Marseille, and Ankara from November 1 to December 25, 2022.
