Exhibition Celebrating the Legacy of Vasyl Stus
The Art Arsenal in Kyiv will host a significant exhibition honoring the memory of the Ukrainian poet Vasyl Stus, who was persecuted by the Russian regime.
The project titled «Vasyl Stus. As long as we're here, everything will be fine» will run from November 13 to February 8 and will occupy six halls of the Old Arsenal on Lavra Street.
The title of the exhibition comes from a letter Stus wrote to his friend Anatolii Lazorenko: «As long as we're here, everything will be fine», — he wrote in 1962. The organizers believe these words will resonate with anyone seeking strength in today’s turbulent reality. Stus has become a symbol of resilience for contemporary Ukrainians.
The exhibits will allow visitors to explore Stus as an intellectual, publicist, poet, and language creator.
Curator Olha Melnyk emphasizes that the exhibition will not present a conventional biography of Stus.
«Our narrative focuses on specific stories that illuminate Stus’s poetic, literary, and journalistic contributions. Visitors will immerse themselves in the context of the 1960s-1980s, where art intertwines with politics», — she explains.
This exhibition marks the first major project of the Art Arsenal since the beginning of the full-scale war with Russia, aimed at preserving historical memory.
«This project is incredibly significant for us for many reasons. We see great educational potential in this exhibition, which is why we are preparing a rich program of public events. I believe that many Ukrainians will discover new aspects of Stus’s work», — stated director Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view a vast array of archival materials, hear the voices of Ukrainian poets reading Stus’s poetry, and engage with his literary legacy.
The project also draws comparisons between Stus’s time and the present, highlighting similarities between generations searching for their identity.
«Stus’s experiences remarkably resonate with our contemporary realities. His life and struggle make him a contemporary figure for us», — the organizers add.
Well-known Ukrainian figures, including Serhii Zhadan and Akhtem Seitablaiev, will read Stus’s poems at the exhibition.
