Donate

“Every war is a humanitarian catastrophe, but it is also an ecological catastrophe”, this is how Ukrainian artist, Ivan Svytlychnyi, begins a description of his own work. However, every war happens in the shadow of the climate crisis and very often it is the result of it - the desire for a total appropriation of a given resource - be it cultural, technological, or natural. The effects of the ongoing war in Ukraine are felt not only by its inhabitants, but also by the whole of Europe, and one of them is the energy security crisis.

Artist:

Ivan Svytlychnyi

Title:

Donate

Curators

Anna Czaban and Ewa Kozik

Co-production:

The Other Space Foundation, 2022

Svytlychnyi emphasizes the importance of planetary thinking, where each individual feels responsible for the common living space - that is, planet Earth. In the face of such destructive force as armed war, all previous values ​​are being revised and/or questioned. What does responsibility for another human being or responsibility for the natural environment mean? We redefine the meaning of words, correct our previous attitudes and actions. In the face of a humanitarian and energy crisis, we simply have to give up personal comfort for collective well-being. Unlearn harmful patterns of thinking and acting.

"Donate" is a work of art that is created from symbolic donations counted in kilowatt hours and the practice of resigning from the electrical amenities of civilization. This will translate into the shape of the light installation, which contributes to the second part of the project. Hopefully this small sacrifice made by the recipient is not only a transaction between the artist-donee-work of art, but the beginning of a change in thinking, care for others, for the natural environment, and, above all, awareness of the multiplicity of connections and dependencies that create our planet.