The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra has launched an exhibition titled «Ukraine in Miniature», which merges the country's architectural heritage with cutting-edge technology. Among the exhibits are 3D models of significant buildings from all over Ukraine, such as the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and the St. George's Cathedral in Lviv.
Some exhibits exist only in digital form due to destruction by Russian invaders, including the Donetsk Drama Theatre in Mariupol and the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum in Kharkiv.
This exhibition not only allows participants to view models but also to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of these places through VR tours, immersive videos, and music compositions by contemporary Ukrainian artists. VR goggles, audiovisual formats, and interactive tools enable visitors to «hear» the architecture and feel its emotional context.
The Skeiron studio team has done extensive work in digitally documenting architectural landmarks, creating accurate 3D models that serve as the basis for the exhibition. The project has already traveled to Finland, Latvia, France, Hungary, and Germany, sharing insights about Ukraine's rich cultural heritage and its connections to European history, as well as the losses it has suffered due to the war.
Acting Director of the National Reserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra» Svitlana Kotliarevska emphasized that the return of the exhibition from Europe to the Lavra is symbolic, reflecting the hope for the return of temporarily occupied territories.
Curator Lina Romanukha led the first tour, highlighting the stylistic diversity of the buildings—from Baroque to Modernism. She noted that this project is not just a demonstration of iconic architectural landmarks, but an attempt to preserve the memory of what has been destroyed while showing that culture can recover.
«We gathered models from various regions of Ukraine to create a unique map of architectural identity, which speaks through the voices of cities, stories, losses, and hopes. The project combines the physical presence of models with digital tools—VR, audio, and video—that allow the viewer to not only see the monument but also to imagine it in reality.
«We aim for every visitor to leave this exhibition not only with an aesthetic impression but also with an inner conviction: Ukrainian culture is alive, strong, and worthy of preservation,» concluded the curator.
The project is realized within the framework of the «Join Us!» program with the support of USAID and the international organization Pact in Ukraine.
Exhibition «Ukraine in Miniature»
When: September 29, daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Where: Refectory Hall of the Church of Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, Lavrska Street, 9
Entrance — with a general ticket to the National Reserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra».
