Oleksa Novakivskyi _Leda part 6_, 1920sAmidst a relentless onslaught that has gripped Ukraine in the grips of a devastating conflict, the birth of a new cultural sanctum in Lviv stands as a defiant beacon of resilience and artistic integrity. This is not merely a space to display art—it’s an act of cultural defiance and a testament to the indomitable spirit of a nation under siege.
A CIAM visitor with a mediator. Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
A tour for the Unbroken (2). Photo_ Ivan Stanislavsky
A tour for the Unbroken (3). Photo_ Ivan Stanislavsky
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Lviv’s latest addition to its cultural quilt, the Center of Intellectual Art Mercury (CIAM), unfurled its creative banners on February 16, emerging as a sanctuary for the arts amidst the echoes of warfare. With its inaugural odyssey, CIAM embarked on a deep-dive retrospect titled «Retrospective of Intellectual Art of Ukraine», a homage to the evolution and endurance of Ukrainian intellectual creativity.
Culture War: Opening a new art centre in Lviv during the third year of the full-scale Russian invasion means more than simply exhibiting art.
A tour for the Unbroken (4). Photo_ Ivan Stanislavsky
Alla Horska _A soldier_, sketch of images for the play _That_s How the Guska Died_, 1962
Olha Holovchyn, the spearhead of CIAM’s PR outreach, recounts the inaugural journey of the art nexus dedicated to those who make such cultural citadels conceivable amidst the chaos. It was the war veterans, the stalwart protectors of Ukraine receiving rehabilitative care at National Rehabilitation Center «Unbroken», who first traversed the visionary expanses of CIAM. They were provided with a sanctuary to reflect and momentarily transcend the gruelling rehabilitation journey through the transformative power of art.
Astounded by the profundity of their experience, the warriors from Unbroken relayed how the cerebral dimensions of the artwork invited a profound pondering and offered a much-needed refuge from the rigours of recovery.
CIAM visitors (1). Photo by Halyna KuchmanychThe exhibition’s narrative unfolds over five epochs of artistic expression: Individual Art, Progress Art, Moral Opposition Art, Cynical Discourse Art, and Active Intellectuals Art. The sprawling gallery spaces, boasting more than 1000 m2, proudly house almost 400 catalogued embodiments of the Ukrainian artistic saga, spanning an entire century of creative endeavour.
Bohdan Mysiuga, the art director of CIAM and curator of historical art narratives, contextualizes the collection as a definitive anthology of Ukrainian artistry. The premier project he hopes will dismantle antiquated preconceptions of twentieth-century Ukrainian art by showcasing the evolutionary shift in Ukrainian creative consciousness through a panoply of media, ranging from canvases and sculptures to intricate installations.
CIAM visitors (3). Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
CIAM visitors (4). Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
The exhibition is a veritable chronicle of Ukraine’s creative minds: from Yakov Hnizdovsky’s detailed nature etchings, Maria Prymachenko’s vibrant folkloric canvases, to Anatol Stepanenko’s abstract interpretations and the collaborative works of Hanna Kuts and Viktor Dovhaliuk. Each name adds a brushstroke to the vivid mosaic of Ukrainian artistic identity.
CIAM, while presently focused on its standing exhibition, intends to be a revolving door for future projects, nurturing continuous dialogue through the universal language of art.
In the streets of Lviv, where the ubiquitous fervour of struggle intertwines with the pursuit of cultural expression, CIAM is more than a gallery. It embodies a manifesto of cultural survival and artistic exploration, saluting the legacy and future of Ukrainian artistry amidst the tumult of our times.
CIAM visitors (7). Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
CIAM visitors (8). Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
The team of the institution hopes that the new art space will become a centre of communication between people and art and a place for interaction between creative and free individuals. The Center’s mediators will help visitors get acquainted with intellectual art and better understand the meanings behind it.
On the occasion of the opening, the art space will host a charity fundraiser for the National Rehabilitation Center «Unbroken». Visitors can join the collection by purchasing a charity ticket or special items, or by taking part in a special curatorial tour. The fundraiser will last for three months from the opening.
Detail of Maryan Oleksiak_s work _A-Z_, 2001. Photo by Halyna Kuchmanych
Mykola Trehub _My thoughts_, 1960s
Roman Zhuk _The Savage_, 1989
The Center of Intellectual Art Mercury is located at 10 Mickiewicz Square, Lviv (2-3 floors). There is an inclusive entrance from Valova St.
