Encounters in Galerie Nothburga
Group exhibition with Ukrainian artists in Innsbruck
In addition to numerous work grants awarded to Ukrainian artists within the framework of the special funding Ukraine-Hilfe of the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sports (BMKOES), which was launched in 2022, numerous presentation opportunities for Ukrainian artists were created by local art and cultural institutions thanks to the additional financial resources. One example of a project made possible by the special funding from the BMKOES is an exhibition at Galerie Nothburga in Innsbruck, which has been in planning since 2022 and was realized in June/July 2023. Founded in 1995, the gallery is run by a team of artists and art enthusiasts and makes an important contribution to cultural life in Innsbruck by supporting young artists, strengthening cooperation between artists from the Alpine region, and promoting encounters and exchanges on an international level.
Artists and representatives of Galerie Nothburga and Office Ukraine at the opening. In the background: works by Anastasiia Rudnieva. Photo: Andrei Siclodi.
From June 28 to July 8, 2023, the exhibition “identity — coexistence” at Galerie Nothburga presented works by six contemporary Ukrainian artists. The group show, curated by Elisabeth Melkonyan, was realized in cooperation with Office Ukraine. The artists Mark Chehodaiev, Igor Gaidai, Iryna Iskra, Oksana Radkevych, Anastasiia Rudnieva and Valentyna Samoilik come from different parts of the country, work with different artistic media and techniques and address diverse issues in their works. But what unites them is their home. Unfortunately, in this case, home means the traumatic experience of war and exile, uncertainty about their future, and constant restrictions, fear, and sadness. Under these circumstances, the continuation of their artistic practice represents for them a way to stay with themselves. The concept of identity present in the title of the exhibition thus becomes, on the one hand, an anchor in a dramatically changing reality, but also points to complex questions of identity that displacement and exile entail. Equally comforting and fragile is the coexistence and solidarity that connects newly arrived people with those living in their new places of residence.
Opening of the exhibition identity — coexistence. In the background on the left: works by Iryna Iskra. On the right: photographs by Igor Gaidai. Photo: Andrei Siclodi.
At the exhibition, the artists, most of whom are currently living in Austria, presented their paintings, drawings and photographs. Sometimes energetic and hopeful, sometimes spiritual and meditative, sometimes interspersed with direct or metaphorical references to the painful events in Ukraine, the works bear witness to the reality of the artists’ lives since the beginning of the war.
Finissage with music by Ukrainian musicians. In the background: works by Valentyna Samoilik. Photo: Andrei Siclodi.
Dedicating this exhibition to Ukrainian artists and bringing together different positions of Ukrainian contemporary art means giving them the opportunity to tell their stories and make their visions visible. Much to the delight of the curator Elisabeth Melkonyan, the lively interest of the visitors was clearly noticeable: “The exhibition identity – coexistence was very successful. Especially the finissage – a celebration with the Ukrainian artists and friends of the gallery was festive and harmonious. Five Ukrainian musicians enchanted the audience. After a discussion round with the Ukrainian artists, we showed a film made by a gallery visitor before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the curator of the exhibition, I am very happy about the positive reaction of the gallery visitors and participating artists.”
Exhibitions such as “identity — coexistence” at Galerie Nothburga make a valuable contribution to supporting artists and cultural workers who have come to Austria because of the war in Ukraine, and transform the gallery into a place where different artistic visions and influences, topics, and, above all, people meet.