The return of art stolen during the war goes beyond simply righting a wrong—it’s a crucial effort to protect humanity’s cultural legacy. Accomplishing this demands a thoughtful state-led strategy combined with strong international partnerships. In the case of Ukrainian art stolen by Russia, the challenge is layered and profoundly intricate.
First and foremost, this involves revising attributions in museums across the globe. Ukrainian scholars and museum professionals have been tirelessly working to ensure accurate labels that acknowledge the Ukrainian origins of artists. Their persistence is paying off as museums increasingly adopt these corrections, bringing long-overdue recognition to Ukraine’s cultural contributions.
Equally important is the need for a comprehensive effort to amplify Ukraine’s voice in the broader narrative of art history. A significant step in this direction is the upcoming publication of Entangled Histories of Art in Ukraine by Routledge, one of the world’s leading academic publishers. This landmark book delves into the intricate ways in which the story of art in Ukraine has been constructed over time. Spanning from the church archaeology hubs and universities of the 19th century to contemporary platforms, it examines how periodicals, curatorial practices, and exhibition projects have become key instruments in shaping and sharing knowledge about Ukrainian art.
Lastly, it is crucial to document Russia’s ongoing crimes against Ukraine’s cultural heritage during the war. This includes not only recording these violations but also formulating strategies to reclaim stolen art and seek compensation for what has been lost. Such efforts are essential to preserving the rich tapestry of Ukraine’s cultural identity for future generations.
Last year, Ukraine launched the Virtual Museum of Stolen Art, a project dedicated to preserving and showcasing cultural treasures taken during the war. Now, the Virtual Museum, in collaboration with Linza Agency and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, is bringing together experts in museum studies, cultural memory, and art repatriation to tackle a pressing question: what is the future of Ukraine’s cultural heritage stolen or destroyed by Russia during the war? This thought-provoking event is set to take place on 4 December at 16:00 in Kyiv.
The organisers have a clear mission: to unite Ukrainian cultural initiatives and institutions in a shared effort to draw global attention to the looting and destruction of Ukrainian art. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, they aim to ensure that these crimes against culture are neither overlooked nor forgotten.
The programme includes two compelling panel discussions: Decolonisation as a Cultural Trend for Global Institutions and What Is Cultural Genocide, and Is It Possible to Recover Losses or Hold Russia Accountable? These discussions promise to explore bold ideas and potential strategies for addressing the immense challenges facing Ukraine’s cultural legacy.
The panel features an interesting lineup of speakers, including Tetiana Filevska, Creative Director of the Ukrainian Institute; Iryna Shum, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Communications at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Kateryna Kvashnytska, Programme Coordinator for Democracy Promotion at the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Kyiv Office; Milena Chorna, Head of the Ukrainian Museums Association NGO; Halyna Chyzhyk, Executive Director of the Raphael Lemkin Society; and Alina Dotsenko, Director of the Oleksii Shovkunenko Kherson Regional Art Museum.
The road to reclaiming stolen art and achieving justice feels daunting and distant, especially considering Moscow’s long history of appropriating Ukrainian cultural treasures, dating back at least to the time of Andriy Boholiubskyi. Yet, the need to tackle this challenge is urgent, and the work must start now.
