Ukraine participates in the Biennale Architettura 2023

Ukraine is participating in the 18^th International Architecture Exhibition curated by Lesley Lokko (20 May – 26 November 2023), with a Pavilion at the Arsenale (Sale d’Armi) and an installation in the Spazio Esedra at the Giardini. Before the Future is the title of the participation, organized by the commissioner Mariana Oleskiv,  and curated by Iryna Miroshnykova, Oleksii Petrov and Borys Filonenko. Ukraine had not participated in the Biennale Architettura since 2014.

The installation at the Pavilion in the Arsenale presents a claustrophobic space, devoid of light sources, a symbol of abandoned places that can become vital again to design spaces of survival and hope for the future. The outdoor installation at the Spazio Esedra in the Giardini is based on a network of largely forgotten 10th century fortifications in the region of Kyiv, which was reactivated during the first days of the Russian invasion, successfully slowing down the invading army’s advance towards the capital. At different times throughout the Biennale Architettura 2023, these spaces will host a public programme of encounters, in which representatives of the Ukrainian cultural community will share their stories and experiences with the whole world.

“By telling stories we have the opportunity to understand each other and share diverse visions of a changing future. Over four hundred days of living at war have shown that stories cannot be told without some line of defense. (…) Today Ukrainian resistance offers, with its intrinsic complication, new and various concepts of the future, whose forms are outlined by the daily deeds of all involved. Such a future is based on cooperation between self-organization, personal contribution and state-building. This future is open to today’s sincere collaborations, and it is worth fighting for.“

– Iryna Miroshnykova, Oleksii Petrov, Borys Filonenko

“Ukraine has now become a powerful participant in transforming the image of the future in Europe and the whole civilized world. Through the Pavilion of Ukraine, we share our hopes for a future, free from aggression and war. It is a testament to the strength and determination of the Ukrainian people to build a better world. By taking part in Biennale Architettura 2023, Ukraine reaffirms its belief in the power of culture to unite nations and inspire positive change. We express gratitude to all friends who have stood by our side, providing humanitarian aid, political and economic support, and advocating for Ukraine's territorial integrity. And we thank La Biennale di Venezia for their generous support, which made the Ukrainian Pavilion possible this year.”                                    

– Mariana Oleskiv

Commissioner—Mariana Oleskiv, State Agency for Tourism Development in Ukraine
Curators—Iryna Miroshnykova, Oleksii Petrov, Borys Filonenko
Deputy Curator, Programme coordinator—Kateryna Ulianova
Deputy Curator—Maria Lanko
Architects/Researchers—Kyrylo Khivrich, Elisaveta Perel, Eugene Pichkur, Iryna Shershakova
Landscape Architect—Hanna Popenko
Visual identity—Fedoriv marketing ↺ innovations
Layout design—Ostap Yashchuk
Producer—Ilona Shneider
PR and Communications management—Ksenia Iefremova
Facilitators—Insha Osvita
General Editor—Clemens Poole

Future Participants —Nikita Bielokopytov, Daria Borovyk, Oleksandr Burlaka, Alex Bykov, Vadym Denysenko, Oksana Dovgopolova, Nina Dyrenko, Uliana Dzhurliak, Ivan Grabko, Dmytro Gurin, Dana Kosmina, Sasha Kurmaz, Petro Markman, Nataliia Mysak, Anton Oliynyk, Oleksii Pakhomov, Mariia Pakhomova, Ivan Protasov, Daryna Pyrogova, Kateryna Semenyuk, Vadym Sidash, care collective, commercial public art, Prykarpattian Theater, The Center for Spatial Technologies, and others

With the support of:
La Biennale di Venezia
Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine
United Nations Development Programme
Programme and Financial Support from the Government of Japan
Charitable Organization «Charitable Fund Pavilion Kultury»
ФОРМА
ist publishing
SAME & Friends
NGO Museum of Contemporary Art
Cultural programme "Ukraine. Out of blackout”
https://ukrainianpavilion.or