Culture and Conflict Exhibition in Berlin
18 January 2016 — 30 January 2016
On January 18, 2016, IZOLYATSIA opens an information exhibition Culture and Conflict: IZOLYATSIA in Exile at the Heinrich Böll Foundation (Berlin, Germany). The programme explores the subject of conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the position of culture under war conditions. The exhibition will be on view until 29 January 2016.
On June 9, 2014, the IZOLYATSIA foundation in Donetsk was seized by representatives of the self-proclaimed «Donetsk People’s Republic» («DPR»).
The offices, galleries, art spaces of IZOLYATSIA were looted and wrecked over the course of the following months. The territory of the cultural foundation has since been used as an armoury, military training camp, prison, and torture centre. The foundation has evacuated its team and since then it continues to perform its mission in Kyiv.
The purpose of this exhibition is to communicate the story of this cultural foundation amidst the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. In many ways, the exiled IZOLYATSIA foundation represents the unheard voices of Donetsk, including those thousands of young professionals, who protested for unity of Ukraine, and who have now fled the city.
The exhibition features video interviews with young people from Donetsk, with civilians who were held by the «DPR» at the IZOLYATSIA site, and video interviews with militiamen of the unrecognised republic, who occupied the foundation’s territory.
The exhibition will also feature information materials about IZOLYATSIA activities and work by Donetsk artist Serhii Zakharov – The House of Cards. During the conflict in Donetsk, Zakharov created a series of caricatures featuring the officials of the self-proclaimed «Donetsk People’s Republic». He posted these images around the city under curfew as a protest. Zakharov was caught by the «DPR» patrol within a month of his graffiti activity. He spent a month in the «DPR» prison, and was heavily beaten and tortured.
The exhibition Culture and Conflict: IZOLYATSIA in Exile has been previously shown in Palais de Tokyo (Paris, France), DOX (Prague, Czech Republic) and as a part of Friedensfest Festival (Augsburg, Germany).
ABOUT THE HEINRICH-BÖLL FOUNDATION
Fostering democracy and upholding human rights, taking action to prevent the destruction of the global ecosystem, advancing equality between women and men, securing peace through conflict prevention in crisis zones, and defending the freedom of individuals against excessive state and economic power – these are the objectives that drive the ideas and actions of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The foundation maintains close ties to the German Green Party (Alliance 90/The Greens) and as a think tank for green visions and projects, is part of an international network encompassing over 100 partner projects in approximately 60 countries.
ABOUT THE FEDERAL FOREIGN OFFICE OF GERMANY
The Federal Foreign Office represents Germany’s interests to the world. It promotes international exchange and offers protection and assistance to Germans abroad. The Federal Foreign Office works closely with partners from civil society, including business associations, unions and humanitarian and human rights organisations.
Exhibition Culture and Conflict: IZOLYATSIA in Exile is supported by the German Consulate General in Dnipropetrovsk and is financed by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany as part of the Programme Development of the Cooperation with the civil society in Eastern Partnership Countries.
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