modern art of ukraine on kudamm the incredible story of 18 creative ukrainians in berlin 1
Category: Conversations, Reflections

Modern art of Ukraine on Ku’damm. The incredible story of 18 creative Ukrainians in Berlin.  

Over the last hundred years, Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm has seen a lot – its boom in the early 20th century, its devastation during World War II, and its reconstruction in the 1950s. Who could have expected that Ku’damm would once again feel the breath of war and welcome Ukrainian refugees?

The beautiful, turn-of-the-century building on Walter Benjamin Square once housed a brothel. The spirit of vice has long since disappeared, but the old walls remain, now ready to be filled with creative energy. Two flats are now home to the Ukraine Culture Community (UCC). They are 18 young people from Ukraine – artists, designers, musicians, dancers, actors – who will transform their creative ideas into exhibitions, concerts, performances, talks…

Even as we rejoice at the emergence of a new cultural hotspot on the map of Berlin, we should not forget that young people have been brought to Germany by the disaster. Their country is being destroyed by Russia, every day rockets and artillery destroy houses, and civilians die.

Alexander S. Wolf, the founder of AusserGewöhnlich, is working with the UCC to help develop the cultural space. He told G.ART Gallery why it is so important for him to support Ukrainian creative people who have become refugees. “Germany has not forgotten the grief it brought to many people twice during the 20th century,” says Alexander S. Wolf. – With such a traumatic experience, today it can and must help confront evil. It’s impossible to remain indifferent when a woman is raped in the next flat, isn’t it? It is impossible not to rush to the defense of someone weak, who is suffering.       

Many professions have left Ukraine, but this story is about artists. Even if under difficult circumstances, important processes of cultural interpenetration are taking place. UCC has become the meeting point of German and Ukrainian contemporary art – a process of mutual enrichment, and synthesis.      

It is symbolic that philosopher and writer Walter Benjamin, whose name the square is named after, died in 1940 because the visa issue was more important than saving someone who was fleeing from Nazism. Today, a new, open Europe is supporting Ukraine in every way it can. The founders of the UCC say: “Berlin welcomed us with open arms – and now we want to give something back. Together, we will recreate Ku’damm as a cultural hub”.

You can read more about this project here. Here is the official information in pdf format for download: Ukraine Culture Community Ku’damm.

 

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