In the heart of Kyiv, on the grounds of St. Sophia Cathedral, a solo exhibition by Slovyansk artist Serhiy Smetankin was held. The event was organized by the Belgian Embassy in Ukraine on the initiative of Ambassador Luc Jacobs, who is personally acquainted with the artist's work.
The exhibition featured 28 works covering a wide geographical area — from his native Sloviansk to the most remote corners of Ukraine. The central place in the exhibition was taken by the series “Trench Painting” — paintings created partly in the conditions of the front and the studio, on wooden ammunition boxes. Of the 28 canvases, 20 were painted on such boxes.
Visitors were particularly drawn to an installation featuring the wreckage of a drone that crashed into a combine harvester near Sloviansk. The composition was complemented by charred wheat ears — a remnant of the fire that broke out after the drone crashed. It became a symbol of how war interferes with the daily life and work of Ukrainians.
“It was important for me to show how Donetsk region lives. Because war is not only the front line, it is a daily struggle for life and culture,” said the artist.
The opening was attended by over 360 guests, including diplomats, representatives of international organizations, cultural figures, politicians, and the general public. The event was not only an artistic gesture but also an important social one — in support of Ukrainian identity and resilience.
According to the artist, such artistic initiatives serve several important functions: they remind the world of the ongoing war in Ukraine; they testify to the living cultural presence of Donetsk region; and they are a message of gratitude to all who support our country.