When the War Comes to the Museum

February 24, 2024 signifies the two-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On this occasion ZKM presents in a collaborative project with the Ukraine-Hilfe-Berlin paintings by children and teenagers that tell of the upheavals of war. The works can be purchased to support the work of the association.

The 35 scenes on display bear witness to situations of destruction and flight. The works visualize the reality of life in the children's hometowns and at the same time show how creative work can give courage and provide a mental shelter. Bed sheets, tablecloths, cardboard and wooden boards were repurposed as canvases and panels.

The paintings, which were created in places of war – Bucha, Irpin, Kherson – were exhibited for the first time at the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg and in Berlin in 2023. A selection of works can now be experienced for a short time at the ZKM. The charity exhibition is a joint project of Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin and the ZKM. All paintings are on sale. The collected founds will be transferred to charity and support of Ukrainian people in need directly through projects by Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin. For detailed information on the projects in German see here.

The Ukraine-Hilfe Berlin has been working with traumatized children in Ukrainian war zones since 2015 and offers artistic rehabilitation projects on site. Together with dedicated volunteers, the association has also been organizing and supervising summer camps and artistic workshops for refugee children and young people in Germany since 2016.

Would you like to acquire one of the paintings and support the initiative? Please contact the coordinator, Tetyana Sell: kunstausstellung@ukraine-hilfe-berlin.de

For any questions about the exhibition on site, please speak to the team at the ZKM information desk or send an email to Anett Holzheid and Christof Hierholzer, the ZKM organizers of the exhibition: holzheid@zkm.de, hierholzer@zkm