The project was funded by the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.
From September 16 to 24, Uzhhorod hosted the art residency “EU-UA Bridges of Resilience: Shared Heritage and Common Futures,” aimed at strengthening cultural and artistic ties between Ukraine and the EU.
The residency brought together 10 Ukrainian artists from Kyiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro, alongside 10 artists from EU countries, including Germany, Belgium, Romania, Latvia, and Lithuania. Their works span a wide range of techniques, from graphic art and photography to interactive performances and multi-format installations.
“The EU Delegation to Ukraine has always supported and continues to support the development of cultural ties between Ukrainians and citizens of the European Union. We are happy to see that, despite different traditions, contexts, and languages, we find our inspiration and strength in unity. We hope that thanks to this and other initiatives, Ukrainians will gain a deeper understanding of EU culture and reaffirm that Ukraine is an integral part of the pan-European cultural map,” said Victoria Davydova, Press and Information Officer of the EU Delegation.
During the art residency in Uzhhorod, the participants delved into contemporary art at the international residence of contemporary art Sorry No Rooms Available. They took part in masterclasses led by fellow artists and invited artists, exploring techniques such as weaving with recycled materials, creating collages, and producing art objects using the scribbling technique. At the lecture they discussed the role of art as a powerful tool for communication and influence on consciousness.
“This has been an invaluable exchange of experience. Although we have a common theme — exploring the connection between Ukraine and the EU — we see how artists from different countries interpret this idea in unique ways through their art. We observe the various techniques and materials each artist uses, allowing us to enrich and expand our own styles with something new and exciting,” commented Tetiana Kramarenko, a scribble artist from the Kyiv region who creates art from random scribble lines.
Throughout the residency, the artists spent a great deal of time communicating and collaborating, exchanging ideas and experiences, and discovering shared values and common ground. In addition to working independently, they engaged in collaborative projects, working alongside other participants, the moderator, and the curator to develop their own concepts related to the residency’s theme. The culmination of their efforts was presented at a joint exhibition, which marked the event’s highlight.
“Many participants developed their ideas for the exhibition right here during the residency, inspired by interactions and conversations with others,” noted the curator of the event, Ukrainian artist Tetiana Domnenko. “For example, Jan from Germany used the traditional Ukrainian image of canning as a metaphor for preserving a person’s identity at a particular moment. Some artists stuck to their usual techniques, while others experimented. Ukrainian illustrator Valentyna, for instance, decided to try something new by creating an installation. Isn’t this the perfect setting for experimentation?”
In both individual and collaborative works, the residency participants reflected on the shared cultural experiences of Ukraine and the EU, as well as the modern integration of their arts and cultures. Alina Kormach from Kyiv created a VFX animation projecting Maria Prymachenko’s artwork onto the Brandenburg Gate. Olena Kulish from Dnipro explored the concept of Europe as a shared home, creating a collage that combined images of “home” contributed by residency participants. Romanian artist Daniel Loagar presented an installation where he placed objects symbolizing human values, passions, or pressing contemporary issues inside identical boxes.
According to Tetiana Domnenko, the artists’ projects demonstrate that Ukraine and EU countries not only share a common past, along with certain similar traditions and values, but also envision a shared future. This is evident in works like those by Alexandra Clod from Ukraine and Arthur De Cort from Belgium.
“The most valuable aspect was how the artists interacted with one another. They participated in each other’s projects, developed joint ideas, and exchanged experiences. Even two participants who couldn’t come to Ukraine actively contributed to the creative process online and submitted their works for the final exhibition. To me, these collaborative efforts are the clearest example of the unity between Ukraine and Europe, as well as proof that we achieved the project’s core goal,” added Anna Vereshchaka, Ukrainian artist and art residency moderator.
German free artist Jan Thau highlighted the strong community developed during the residency. “I think events like this are highly effective. We now have a meaningful connection with Ukrainian artists, which continues to grow. We meet, get to know one another, and discuss topics that aren’t always obvious,” he commented.
“Of course, these cultural ties aren’t built in a day or a week. I hope the participants will continue to apply the experience they’ve gained and further strengthen the cultural bridges between Ukraine and the EU,” curator Tetiana Domnenko concluded.
In total, the participants created 30 individual and collaborative artworks: Alisa Kormach “United”, Eva Alvor “Wasteland”, Viktoriia Teletien “ZOOM. PL–UA”; Didier Scheuren “Beherzt”, “Identificado”; Olena Kulish “My house, your house”, “Exchange”; Tetiana Malinovska “Transparent Dialogue”, Arthur De Cort “MetEuro”, Tetiana Kramarenko “Is chaos a problem or an opportunity? The choice is yours!”, Alexandra Clod “Flight lesson”, Valentyna Romanova “Amulet”, “Light is coming”; Jan Thau “100 degrees of identity preservation”, Viktoriia Taraban “Oak”; Juna Janone, Veronika Draexler, Samuel Van Ransbeeck “No name”, Daniel Loagar “Boxes of Humanity”, Lina Kirjazovaite “Me, my art and why”; Julija Bercovica, Сornelius Schaper “Tea Ceremony”; Lina Kirjazovaite and Samuel Van Ransbeeck “Sound and Word Reflections”, and two performances: Daniel Loagar, Сornelius Schaper, Arthur De Cort “Flight lesson”, and Mariia Samoilenko “House on the Border”.
The art event is part of the project “Cultural Diplomacy: EU-Ukraine”, funded by the EU Delegation to Ukraine.