The Bode Museum in Berlin is showcasing the works of twelve Ukrainian artists under the theme “Timeless”. The exhibition presents contemporary works juxtaposed with centuries-old religious sculptures, invoking themes of war, loss, grief, death, and hope. The exhibition is curated by Olesia Sobkovych, who had to flee Ukraine when the war started. As her works cannot leave Ukraine at the moment, replicas of her works are being showcased in the exhibition.
The exhibition begins with Oleg Gryshchenko’s interpretation of the protective cloak Madonna that fends off the hail of bombs. Ukrainian graphic artist Alla Soochan wraps the Madonna in a camouflage net, representing the protection that the Volunteer Movement offers to the people of Ukraine. Maryna Solomennykova shows the breastfeeding Madonna next to the funerary stele, representing the unwavering dedication of mothers who cared for their babies in bunkers or gave birth.
The art historian Alisa Lozhkina created her picture “Flight to Egypt” in reference to a stone relief with the same title from the 15th century, depicting families separated by war who will hopefully reunite soon. The exhibition is a thought-provoking tour supported by the Ernst von Siemens Foundation. War spares no art, and evidence of looted art during World War II can be seen in the museum’s damaged sculptures.
The exhibition will be on display until March 17, 2024, at Am Kupfergraben, Berlin. The exhibition hall is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is ten euros. The exhibition serves as a reminder of the toll war takes on humanity and the perseverance of the human spirit.
