The neo-fresco ‘Iki pergales / Do peremogi,’ situated on the so-called Moscow Houses, sees the international team joining forces again, and this autumn, Vilnius city center will be adorned with a new artwork dedicated to the strength of Ukraine and its people!
On October 8th, at 18:00 in the center of Vilnius, at Juozapaviciaus Street 9, the opening of the neo-fresco ‘NEZLAMNA / Unbreakable’ will take place.
The NEZLAMNA fresco is dedicated to the unbroken spirit of the Ukrainian people defending their freedom, emphasizing the importance of intangible cultural heritage that unites communities and nations.
At the center of the upcoming fresco is the same volunteer from Zaporizhia, Tetiana Drobotia. This determined girl, adorned in a Ukrainian designer’s outfit adorned with national patterns, is depicted standing on a rock in the outskirts of Zaporizhia after the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam.
The event will be attended by the entire international creative team from Lithuania, Estonia, and Ukraine.
The opening will be hosted by the Ukrainian activist and refugee Svitlana Zaluzhna. In 2022-2023, she created the UA+LT-TULA project, aiming to integrate and enrich Ukrainian and Lithuanian families through culture and art.
The musical part of the program will feature the Maryna Pylypenko Ensemble (ethno jazz). Ukrainian singer Marina, who arrived from Dnipro, found refuge in Lithuania.
About the Artwork
Similar to the neo-fresco ‘Do peremogi,’ Tetiana’s photo used in the fresco is the work of Elena Tita, a photographer living and working in Zaporizhia. For two years, this courageous Ukrainian has been documenting the realities of war in the Zaporizhia region.
The new artwork reflects the tragic realities of war, using a photo taken in Zaporizhia after Russia exploded the Kakhovka Dam.
In the fresco, Tetiana is also adorned specifically for this artwork with a national costume interpretation created by Ukrainian designers, symbolizing the modern identity of Ukraine as a young, beautiful, and courageous country. The vyshyvanka is also visible here.
Vyshyvanka, an integral part of Ukrainian cultural identity, gained significant symbolic meaning during the 2014 Maidan uprising and the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. In times of war, intangible cultural heritage brings communities together, but it is equally fragile and vulnerable as tangible cultural values. The preservation of intangible heritage depends on undisturbed communities and a conducive environment where it is nurtured.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003). On this occasion, initiatives worldwide are dedicated to the custodians, supporters, and creators of living traditional cultures and intangible cultural heritage.
September 15, 2023