There is no place for bureaucracy when it comes to saving lives
Interview with Veronika Dirnhofer, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna
Many students and teachers at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna expressed their solidarity with Ukraine. Veronika Dirnhofer, an artist and professor in the drawing class, was one of the first to support Ukrainians and had her entire class help raise donations in an unexpected way. The students held a series of parties, exhibitions, and auctions in the walls of the Academy and collected more than 20.000 EUR. We talked with Veronika about how a large institution is able to open its doors and support people in difficult situations, thanks to individual initiative.
One of the presentations by Ukrainian lecturers. Photo: Veronika Dirnhofer
Please briefly describe the most important events, campaigns, and initiatives you started to support Ukrainian artists in Austria.
Through the initiative of Anna Khordorkovskaya, we have been organising weekly children’s painting courses and psychological support for adults with the association Solidarity Matters, which I founded, for over 15 months.
Pavlo Makov, Lucy Ivanova and Lizaveta German were invited by me to speak at the Academy. I had and have Ukrainian students in the department. The students of the Drawing Department at the Academy organised regular benefit bars in the spring of 2022 and all proceeds in the amount of 22,000 EUR were donated to charitable organisations for Ukraine Aid.
You initiated many events and initiatives supporting Ukrainian artists within the Academy and beyond. Only some professors at the Academy did the same. What was your motivation? How did you manage to find the proper framework and format for it?
Solidarity with people who have to witness a brutal war of aggression in their home country. Great respect for people who have to endure so much suffering and interest in the incredibly exciting and talented artists I have had the chance to meet. I don’t think what I do is worth mentioning, but I really want to emphasise that I find the work of Office Ukraine very impressive and important. Congratulations to you!
Solidarity party in the courtyard of the Academy. Photo: Veronika Dirnhofer
How did you manage to involve the class at the Academy to support you? What was the reaction of the students? Did you have talks and discussions in the class about the war?
Basically, there was great commitment right away – as always, there are some who are more committed and others less, but overall I have to say that we were united and energetic as a class. There were also sometimes uncomfortably unsettling situations between Russian students and guests from Ukraine. From my point of view, however, we were always able to stay in conversation. We also talked about the war again and again, and the question of weapons deliveries led to discussions.
Did you get some help from the administration / management and teaching staff from the Academy?
Not directly – but the benefit bars were held at Schillerplatz in the Academy and so we were very supported by the space.
The war is still going on, unfortunately. Will any supporting measures be continued and have to be continued? What can the Academy do for the Ukrainian artists / students? Do you think the Academy could support also artists refugees from other countries as unfortunately war and conflicts happen in different places in the world?
I will of course continue the activities in our class, but I don’t know what else is going on at the Academy at the moment. We are all aware that there can never be enough support for refugees, but we have an entrance exam at the academy where we have to make sure that all applicants are treated equally.
Ukrainian artists Alina and Karina Haieva in front of one of their works created during the drawing class. Photo: Veronika Dirnhofer
How would you describe your communication with Ukrainian artists at the beginning of the war and now? Are you still in touch? Did some of them decide to stay in Austria while the war continued?
At the beginning I was rather unsure how and what to communicate – in the meantime I am good friends with some of them and friendships have developed. Yes, I know some women with children who have returned to Ukraine.
How was it for you to discover Ukrainian artists and their practice these days?
Ukrainian artists are as diverse in their work as anywhere else, but I am fundamentally impressed by the substance, seriousness, power and urgency.