The exhibition examines how art aids in understanding fundamental values of human existence during periods of change, offering a unique language space for creative exchange that shapes ethical guidelines and fosters the search for truth.
At the end of June, a new exhibition project titled ""Universalism" began at the Institute of Contemporary Art of the National Academy of Fine Arts of Ukraine, initiated in partnership with leading Ukrainian artists, curators, and cultural organizations.
This project regards art as a universal means capable of forming ethical foundations, encouraging dialogue, and supporting the search for truth in the complex context of personal and social interactions.
The exhibition features works by contemporary Ukrainian artists, including Oleg Tistol, Viktor Sydorenko, Marina Skugareva, Alexander Lyapin, and others. Their art creates a multidimensional space where art serves as a tool for self-awareness, understanding society, and time.
According to Igor Savchuk, the director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, in the context of war and the deep transformations that Ukraine is undergoing, universal human values such as life, freedom, responsibility, justice, and truth gain special significance. The exhibition aims not only to capture artistic reflections on these challenges but also to create a space where these values can be lived, understood, and affirmed through art.
The curators believe that the exhibition is not structured as a linear narrative but as an open system of interaction appealing to the philosophical tradition of Plato. The viewer does not receive ready-made answers but engages in a dialogue with the artworks, independently constructing the logic of viewing and interpretation. This approach transforms the exhibition into an intellectual laboratory, where art becomes a process of knowledge — through emotional experiences and empathy.
The project's curator, Vitaliy Adlermann, notes that "Universalism" is not a finished construct but a space of inquiry where each artwork poses questions, and the viewer becomes a conversational partner. The goal is not to impose an interpretation but to create conditions for independent understanding.
The central theme of the exhibition is the tension between freedom and responsibility, between the artist's personal choice and their societal role. This balance is embodied through a conditional structure inspired by the model of Plato's state: artist-philosophers engage with concepts and meanings (such as Oleg Tistol); artist-warriors raise complex questions, exposing conflicts (for instance, Viktor Sydorenko); artist-craftsmen work with materials, traditions, and corporeality (including Marina Skugareva).
At a time when Ukraine is experiencing war and profound historical transformations, art re-emerges not only as a reflection of reality but as a conduit for meanings and values. The exhibition "Universalism" opens a space for philosophical contemplation of the concepts of freedom, responsibility, truth, and justice — the foundations upon which the future is built.
Exhibition "Universalism"
When: until July 24, on weekdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Where: Kyiv, 18-d Yevhena Konovaltseva Street.
Admission is free
