“The Ukrainian Body” censored in Kyiv

In the wake of Putin’s statements about the proactive promotion of realism as more effective than censorship, reports of censorship have come pouring in from Moscow’s southern sister Kyiv.

Lada Nakonechnaya, Personal Shield

According to a statement from co-curator Serge Klymko:

On February 10, 2012, President of NaUKMA (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy) Sergey Kvita ordered “Ukrainian Body,” an exhibition that explores the problematics of corporality in Ukrainian society, to be closed only three days after its opening. The entrance to the gallery is now locked. Sergey Kvit explained his action with the following reasoning: “It’s not an exhibition, it’s shit.”
The consequence of such an action, which we consider to be an unacceptable act of censorship, against a public space for dialogue neglects important social and political problems and suppresses critical reflection. The exhibition, which was slated to close on February 28, presents works by Ukrainian artists Anatoly Belov, Eugenia Belorusets, Oksana Bryukhovetsky, Alexander Volodarsky, Nikita Kadan, Volodymyr Kuznetsov, Liubov Malikov, Lada Nakonechna, Mykola Ridnii , and many others.

We can only hope that such a thoughtless act on the part of the university’s administration was the result of a misunderstanding that can be resolved. We are now petitioning to collect signatures to protest against artistic censorship within the walls of NaUKMA. Please, spread this message within the artistic and intellectual communities.

Nikita Kadan, The Corrupt

Among the works included in the exhibition were a series of drawings, “The Corrupt” by artist Nikita Kadan, who was recently awarded the PinchukArtCentre Prize. The drawings combine anatomical sketches with architectural blueprints.

 

More information about the exhibition is available here. For images from the show, check out the link to Art Ukraine.

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