The Story of My Ukraine

Posted by Victoria Rose on November 4, 2023

Iryna Mazur, honorary Consul of Ukraine in Philadelphia at the opening of My Ukraine.

Art tells a story—of its creator, its provenance, its history, its origin, its subject. An exhibition tells that story on a different scale, which can provide impacts far beyond the gallery walls. My Ukraine, the new exhibition at the John H. Baker Gallery at West Chester University, brings focus to the stories and people behind the news articles and images seen worldwide for the past two years.

“Behind every picture is a story,” said Igor Roussanoff, curator of the exhibition, which is selected from his personal collection. “The collection is from my friends, people I know.”

He has been acquiring the artworks for decades, with pieces from before the dissolution of the Soviet Union and since Ukraine gained its independence. Part 1 of the exhibition, which shows artwork from pre-1991, was also shown at the opening of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC, in 1992.

“This story is about the country where I was born and lived before my emigration to the USA in the late eighties,” said Roussanoff in his exhibition statement.

An internationally renowned theater activist, artistic director, curator, costume designer, and educator, Roussanoff selected pieces that represent the variety of art styles and artists of the country.

“If you pay attention to the artist, you can see the story,” said Roussanoff. The pieces are intentionally not labeled, forcing the viewer to search out similar pieces on their own, and then look for more information in the program catalog. The stunning variety of art includes many mediums, from large-scale oils to metal sculpture to photography to pencil sketches to advertisements to ballet costumes.

Part 2 of the exhibition shows art from post-Soviet Ukraine. The creativity of artists from the young independent state reflects the search for national identity among the diaspora.

“We are all different, but also the same,” said Roussanoff. The artists and people are “trying to figure out who they are” through art which is as vibrant and varied as the artists who created them.

“From a curatorial standpoint, it was a challenge to organize the layout,” said Andrew Snyder, Associate Professor and Gallery Director at West Chester University. “There are so many pieces that are impactful from a cultural and artistic perspective.” Indeed, all four walls are crowded with artwork, a display that allows an overall panorama and invites closer inspection.

Set design for the play Colas Breugnon by Romain Rolland

The vibrancy continues in Part 3, which includes costumes, renderings, and photographs from Roussanoff’s design work while in residence at the WCUPA Department of Theatre and Dance. Details often missed when seeing these pieces under the bright lights onstage can be seen up close in the photographs and costumes themselves.

Part 4 of the exhibition brings art to life in a play, Me, War and Toy Grenade, by the young Ukrainian playwright Nina Zakhozhenko and Ukrainian guest director Sergei Grabbe. Some scenes from the play will be shown in the gallery itself, and full performances will take place Nov. 16 to 19. The play “depicts the development of a society that has experienced the trauma of collective violence and seeks ways to overcome the consequences of this injury,” said Roussanoff in his statement.

“When the war began, I thought how I could help,” said Roussanoff. All money raised from the exhibition as well as the play performances will go to You Are the Angel, an organization that provides shelter, food, basic medical supplies, drinking water, fuel, and psychosocial support to both the refugees fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine and those unable to leave. “War is a horrible thing, we see it every day on TV, but when it knocks on your door, that is when you understand,” Roussanoff added.

“We are all different, but also the same,” said Roussanoff. His collection shows the humanity, beauty, and talent of the artists, but also deep expressions of his home country: “This is my story about my Ukraine.”

My Ukraine is on view until Dec. 9 at the John H. Baker Gallery in the E. O. Bull Center for the Arts, located at 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester. Me, War, and Toy Grenade will be performed in the J. P. Adler Studio Theatre from Nov. 16 to 19. For more information, check WCUPA.edu/arts-humanities/artdesign and on Instagram @artsatwcu.

More information about You Are the Angel can be found at Youaretheangel.org.

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.