GRANTEE
The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has changed the lives of millions of Ukrainians. In response, many Ukrainian men and women have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to protect their families and the state. Others have found alternative ways to fight against the Russian aggressor, such as using paints and pencils to create artworks depicting the war and its consequences. What narratives and visual symbols are portrayed in paintings and posters showing the full-scale war? What war experiences do they share? Who are the heroes and anti-heroes of this war? These contents are important to explore, as the artworks have the power to influence public opinion and thus shape the collective imagination surrounding the war. The project focuses on Ukrainian war paintings and posters exhibited in Ukraine or abroad and those widely shared on the web. The research covers the period from the beginning of the full-scale invasion to its second anniversary.