The event "A View from Kyiv Art Exhibition" took place in January 2024, in The Hague, at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Zeestraat 78, 2518 AD, Den Haag).
This exhibition was organised in collaboration with the Embassy and the "Kastanje" Dutch-Ukrainian Cultural Center and curator Mariana Dzhulai.
The evening's guests were warmly welcomed by Ambassador Oleksandr Karasevich, whose moving speech emphasised the importance of cultural diplomacy, promotion, and support for Ukrainian art, particularly amidst the backdrop of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Ambassador highlighted that the establishment of the cultural center "Kastanje" is a significant step towards fostering closer dialogue and friendly relations between the two countries, serving as another strong foundation stone in the building of enduring relationships between Ukraine and the Netherlands.
The project showcased the artwork of two artists from different generations - the renowned Ukrainian artist Oleg Tistol and the young artist and singer En Rozen. Oleg Tistol was deliberately chosen for this important embassy exhibition. He is one of the first artists who started to represent Ukraine on the international stage. It happened in the Netherlands, at the Stedelijk Museum, where he participated in exhibitions in 1990 and 1991.
With this project, we also want to raise the question of the possibility of exhibiting Oleg Tistol’s monumental painting “The Battle of Poltava”, which is stored in the museum depot and has not been exhibited for 20 years.
During the event, guests had the opportunity to join the curator's tour and the presentation of the cultural center "Kastanje". But the highlight of the evening was the live artist talk. It was incredible to see the authors from Kyiv and to learn more about their creative practices. The guests also had the opportunity to ask questions.
During the reception, forshmak was served - a special dish prepared from traditional Dutch herring according to the recipe of Ukrainian Jews, which added a culinary accent to the idea of uniting our cultures.
