Ukrainian artists and South African activists eventually find their voice on war through travelling exhibition

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

It was a matter of time, some will say, before some artists would wake up to the reality of the war and make their voice heard on the issue. Perhaps the question should rather be why did it take this long? After all in a war situation, artists throughout history have always played an important role, either supporting the war If it is for achieving social justice, or against the war if it is a mindless war that egotistic and powerful individuals unleash on each other and in the process resulting in unnecessary destruction of property and lives.

Coming to anti-colonialism wars on the African continent, for example, musicians have composed songs to support anti-colonial struggles. Visual artists have produced works that that deal with issues of oppression. Examples of visual artists playing their role in the struggle in the South African context are quite plenty, notably the politically charged works of Dumile Feni and Thami Mnyeli for example.

Not to mention the role played by South African musicians in the struggle against apartheid, such as the late Miriam Makeba, the late Jonas Gwangwa, the late Dorothy Masuka and the late Hugh Masekela, for example, musicians who made their voice heard from wherever they were in exile.

And therefore some have rightly been wondering where are the voices of artists in the raging war between Ukraine and Russia since Russian invaded Ukraine several months ago.

Eventually some Ukrainian artists and South African activists have found their voice and courage to take a stand on the contentious war. And they are doing this in the best way they know how- through their art.

Ukrainian artists are joining hands with South African activists to mount a travelling exhibition which is “a calling for mutual understanding of war’s impact on women and children.” The exhibition launches on August 11, with a Ukraine-South African dialogue event.

 “The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundationand Ukrainian Association of South Africaare bringing a specially curated exhibition, “The Womanly Face of War”, to cities across South Africa, as part of a landmark Woman’s Month collaboration by Ukrainian artists and South Africa civil society to improve public understanding of the impact of the war in Ukraine, particularly on women and children. 

Curated byleading members of Ukrainian women-led artist collective ‘Sunseed Art’, and timed to coincide with Women’s Month across South Africa, “The Womanly Face of War” is based on four female artists’ personal perspectives of how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted on women and girls, including the horrors of sexual and gender-based violence and how mothers have been forced into perilous roles as fighters and life-savers,” a statement from the curators reads.

 The opening will be preceded by a live-streamed online-only public dialogue between African and Ukrainian speakers (12-2pm, 11 August), on the issue of a just peace for Ukraine and the impact of the war on Africa (Register here). Hosted by the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation with the Ukrainian Association of South Africa at the Mail & Guardian platform, speakers include: 

·Graça Machel, international advocate for women’s and children’s rights 

·Myroslav Marynovych, co-founder of Amnesty International Ukraine,   

·Victor Ochen, Ugandan peace activist and Founder/Executive Director of the African Youth Initiative Network 

·Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian human rights lawyer and head of The Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine. 

 Desmond Tutu once said, ‘’If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”. Art is how these brave Ukrainian women have chosen to speak out against their oppressors. I strongly hope that South Africans – many of whom will still vividly recall the days of our own fight against oppression – will take the time to listen and engage in the vital message that they share,” says Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation 

“I am in love with Ukrainian art. Beauty and freedom are two components that we want to share and inspire people with. We choose the powerful voice of art, this international language, to talk about women’s pain, determination, bravery and utopian hope for justice and peace,” says Olesya Drashkaba, curator of The Womanly Face of War and co-founder of Sunseed Art:

 “Too often, women are subjected to the worst excesses of war and conflict and the most egregious human rights violations. This is happening in Ukraine now as it has happened, and continues to happen, in a number of countries across the African continent for many years. However, the powerful images in this exhibition also tell us how, as their lives are being ripped apart by war, women are stepping up as heroes to protect their homes and families.”

 Fostering solidarity and understanding across nations is crucial to tackling issues of gender-based violence and the impact of war on women and girls. I’m confident that my South African sisters and brothers will be as keen as I am to show that solidarity,” says Annah Moyo-Kupeta, Executive Director of Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR):  

“Art is the language that helps us grieve and communicate our losses to the world but also creates empathy and understanding of the values we defend and imagines the future we want to build together,” says Nataliya Popovych, co-founder of Sunseed Art.

The exhibition is free to the public and will take place at the following venues:

· The Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre in Sophiatown, Johannesburg(12-16 August, 09.00-17.00 daily) 

·The Desmond and Leah Tutu Museum in Cape Town(19-25 August, 09.30-15.30 daily) 

· Durbanin early September (exact date and location TBC). 

 The invitation-only VIP opening on 11 August* will feature live poetry and dance, as well as a panel discussion involving: 

· Annah Moyo-Kupeta, South African human rights lawyer and Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) 

·Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation 

·Nataliia Popovych, Ukrainian activist and co-founder of Sunseed Art 

· Olesya Drashkaba, Ukrainian artist, curator and co-founderof Sunseed Art. 

Entry: Free; donations welcome (all profits go towards humanitarian efforts in Ukraine)