You're reading: New website helps artists all over world show their support for Ukraine in crisis

Artists all over the world now have an easy way to show their support to the people of Ukraine in this time of crisis. A new Artists Support Ukraine (www.artistssupportukraine.com) website invites artists to upload their Ukraine-related works or other art pieces as long as they are devoted to Ukraine. They often come with supportive messages.

People are encouraged to share the works on social media. The website, available in English, was launched on March 17 by Kyiv-based Kadygrob-Taylor Art Platform.

Just a week after its start, the project has gathered dozens of messages, video addresses, collages, photographs and paintings.

“The project was created to unite the global cultural community in order to show its consent with the people of Ukraine,” the statement on the website reads.

The idea came up in early March when Russian artists and performers addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a letter of support for his invasion of Crimea.

“That moment I thought we just have to show that this whole different world, where artists support the truth and respect human rights, does exist,” explains Vladimir Kadygrob, a co-founder of Kadygrob-Taylor Art Platform.

In its first day, the project’s Facebook page collected over 1,000 likes.

The first artists to upload their works were Russian art group AES+F, Luchezar Boyadzhiev from Bulgaria, Fred Tomaselli from the U.S., and visual artist and filmmaker from Poland Artur Zmijewski.

“In this difficult moment, my heart is with all friends and people of Ukraine (and of Russia) who hate war! Nothing is worth wasting human life, why don’t we ever learn,” Boyadzhiev from Bulgaria wrote on the website.

Tomaselli blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The world would be a better place if Putin wasn’t always trying to prove his ‘manliness’,” he wrote on the website and expressed hope that Ukraine “can eventually achieve the ethical, open and equitable society it deserves.”

Ukrainian artists appreciate the support.

“Of course, financial and political support is more important but we cannot get that without the support of society, including art groups and art unions” says Marysya Rudska, a painter, illustrator and EuroMaidan Revolution activist. “Besides that, every art project is a news hook for Ukraine and visual information is always much easier to perceive.”

Kyiv Post staff writer Daryna Shevchenko can be reached at [email protected]