This year, Ukrainian architects, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, presented an exhibition titled “UKRAINIAN DNA” at the Venice Architecture Biennale. The entire installation represents a material, spatial and temporal journey through the moments of Ukrainian history and the present.
On May 19, during the opening day titled “Architecture. How to build back better Ukraine. The Voices of Ukrainian Architects”, Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine delivered a speech to the event’s attendees.
“The entire history of Ukraine is a history of dramatic struggle. Our culture is highly modern, yet deeply rooted. In particular, Ukrainian architecture preserves the legacy of centuries-old national traditions, which find their reflection in the outstanding creative achievements of contemporary Ukrainian architects.”
Ukrainians are connected to their ancestors and future generations through the thin roots of timeless self-awareness. A culture of care and personal responsibility, the memory of generations, a deep connection to the native land, collective strength and consciousness, a willingness to defend our values, and ability to instantly self-organize – these are all the properties of our DNA lacework. Therefore, a fundamental objective for the strategy of reconstruction to be complex. Preserving traditions, identity and creating the vision of the Future with the integral human centered care in the core as approach.
“We are grateful for the interest of the international professional community in the restoration of our country. The Venice Architecture Biennale serves as a colossal creative laboratory and a significant platform for discussing innovative ideas related to Ukraine’s reconstruction. I am convinced that after our just victory, the architectural landscape of Ukraine will acquire new features. It will remain recognizable with a distinctly Ukrainian original style, but will also incorporate European elements. In this devastating war we are fighting for values, for people, for their dignified lives,” emphasized Oleksandr Tkachenko in his video address.
UKRAINIAN DNA is located righton the Giudecca, which in recent years has become a special place for the Arts in Venice, and at the Cloister of San Cosma and Damiano where artists in residence stay. Therefore, this is a place of meeting for artists, galleries, and critics who have settled in this wonderful corner of the lagoon city.
The patrons of the project: the Municipality of Venice, the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation, the International Union of Architects, the National Council of the Order of Architects, the Order of Architects of Venice, the Scuola Grande di San Marco.
Curators and organizers: Anastasiia Biletska and Anna Manako, Ambassadors of Design4Ukraine Association, Anna Kyrii, Deputy Chairwoman of the Architectural Chamber of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, Chairwoman of the Board of the Foundation of Ukrainian architectural Chamber, Olga Neshta, doctor of Philosophy in Architecture, member of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, Edoardo Milesi and Roberto Bianconi for Scuola Permanente dell’Abitare. Sana Moreau – Curator of Rhizome project.
Special guest: musician, ambassador of the wheel lyre — Gordiy Starukh.
