We are delighted to announce shelter, a new work by Veronika Hapchenko commissioned by Kanal - Centre Pompidou for the 8th Congress of Women: 'The Feminist Ukraine. New Geopolitical sisterhood', which opens tomorrow on 3 December.
shelter is a large-scale painting by Veronika Hapchenko which commences her new series devoted to Soviet era avant-garde mosaics and murals in Ukraine. Once speaking of a bright, peaceful future, they are now being destroyed in the course of Russian invasion and bombardments. shelter is Hapchenko’s interpretation of the mosaic Windfighter (ukr. Boryviter, also known as Kestrel - a bird fighting wind). Created by monumental painter, dissident and human rights activist, Alla Horska (1929 - 70) for Mariupol’s restaurant Ukraina, it was wrecked by shelling in July 2022. Hapchenko's triptych features a dynamic group scene with two women and two birds flying towards their breasts. Their long hair strands and the birds' wings form a protective layer over other human figures. The muscular female bodies hint at the strength of those who fight, and those who flee Ukraine to protect their children.
