--- type: exposition title: In the Eye of the Storm language: en url: "https://www.belvedere.at/en/eye-storm" --- # In the Eye of the Storm ## Modernism in Ukraine ![Ölgemälde von drei weiblichen Figuren mit Hüten](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/header_cropped_1920x480_fp/public/2023-09/1.%20Exter%20Three%20Female%20Figures%2C%201910.jpg.webp?itok=1WyaVFVe) **Duration:** 23 February 2024 - 2 June 2024 This comprehensive exhibition is the first presentation outside Ukraine to explore the development of modern art in the cultural centers of Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv during the first half of the 20th century. Modernism in Ukraine is revealed to be both international and avant-garde. From Jugendstil to Constructivism, the exhibition tells the tempestuous and fascinating history of cultural identity in Ukraine. The Modernist movement in Ukraine unfolded against a complicated sociopolitical backdrop: the revolution in 1905, World War I, the collapse of the Russion Empire in 1917, the short-lived autonomy as the Ukrainian People’s Republic (1917–21), and the foundation of Soviet Ukraine. Despite the tumult, Ukrainian art, literature, theater, and film flourished. The Boichukists (бойчукісти), followers of the monumentalist Mykhailo Boichuk (Михайло Бойчук), created their own national school of mural painting inspired by the Byzantine tradition and Ukrainian folk art. In Kharkiv, Vasyl Yermilov (Василь Єрмілов) became the foremost exponent of the Ukrainian version of Constructivism. Meanwhile in Kyiv, Oleksandr Bohomazov (Олександр Богомазов), the country’s preeminent Futurist, developed the style known as Spectralism. Then in the late 1920s, the Kyiv Art Institute became a last refuge for pioneers of modern art such as Kazymyr Malevych (Казимир Малевич). All these developments were brutally halted by Stalinist repression in the 1930s. Curated by Konstantin Akinsha and Katia Denysova together with Maryna Drobotiuk and Olena Kashuba-Volvach (both from the National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv). Assistant Curator: Miroslav Haľák (Belvedere) *Exhibition organised by Belvedere, Vienna, with the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels, and the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in partnership with the National Art Museum of Ukraine.* *Initiated by Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, and supported by Museums for Ukraine, to protect the artworks from the risks of the current Russian invasion.* ### [Lower Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit/lower-belvedere) **Opening hours:** Monday to Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm **Address:** Lower Belvedere, 1030 Vienna ([Getting there]()) [Tickets](https://www.belvedere.at/en/tickets?location%5B0%5D=3) ##### In cooperation with - [Die Presse](https://www.diepresse.com/) ## Impressions - ![Ölgemälde von drei weiblichen Figuren mit Hüten vor einem gelben und blauen Hintergrund — Alexandra Exter (Олександра Екстер), Three Female Figures, 1909-10 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-09/1.%20Exter%20Three%20Female%20Figures%2C%201910.jpg.webp?itok=tBBXcRO7) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-28.jpg.webp?itok=63niG_ST) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-20.jpg.webp?itok=_WZhy5_S) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-24.jpg.webp?itok=nmbk5KfD) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-19.jpg.webp?itok=-AJtSdTk) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-7.jpg.webp?itok=qnN3i_Wp) - ![Ausstellungsansicht "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernismen in der Ukraine" — Exhibition view "In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine" — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-02/UB%20In%20the%20Eye%20of%20the%20Storm%20PR-5.jpg.webp?itok=F0vlphwP) - ![In einem eingezeichneten Kreis sind chaotisch angeordnete Formen und Objekte abgebildet — Kostiantyn Piskorskyi (Костянтин Піскорський), Civilization. A Fantasy City, 1917 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-12/Kostjantyn%20Piskorskyj_%20Civilization.%20A%20Fantasy%20City.jpg.webp?itok=R56DMwBv) - ![Frau in rotem Rock wird von Mann hinter ihr stehend in den Nacken geküsst — Fedir Krychevskyi (Федір Кричевський), Love (from triptych Life), 1925-27 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-09/Krychevsk%D1%88y.jpg.webp?itok=hDJhwcI1) - ![Coverdesign für das Magazin Avanhard in Orangetönen — Vasyl Yermilov (Василь Єрмілов), ’Avanhard’ -‘The Avant-Garde, Journal cover design, 1929 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-09/3.%20Yermilov%20Avant-garde%20%28Magazine%20cover%20design%29%2C%201929.jpg.webp?itok=ZIMdr91Z) - ![Ölgemälde von männlichen Figuren, die Sägen schärfen — Oleksandr Bohomazov (Олександр Богомазов), Sharpening the Saws, 1927 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-09/2.%20Bohomazov%20Sharpening%20Saws%201927.jpg.webp?itok=HN7UG-g3) - ![Selbstporträt des Künstlers in einem schwarzen Mantel, weißen Hemd und schwarzer Krawatte vor einem Hintergrund von weiß umrandeten schwarz ausgefüllten Kreisen in unterschiedlichen Größen — Wsewolod Maksymowytsch (Всеволод Максимович), Self-Portrait, 1913 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50846_Maksymovych-Self-Portrait-1913-%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=Ym2Umam3) - ![Ölgemälde in leuchtenden Farben mit einem orangefarbenen Pferd in der Mitte, einem schwarzen Pferd am rechten Bildrand und einer menschlichen Figur hevorragend hinter einem Gebäude auf der linken Bildseite — Davyd Burliuk (Давид Бурлюк), Carousel, 1921 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50332_Davyd-Burliuk_Carousel_1921.jpg.webp?itok=qbebwANe) - ![Zwei Engelsfiguren vor einem Hintergrund einer Naturlandschaft, umrahmt von Blumen — Mychajlo Schuk (Михайло Жук), White and Black, 1912-14 — Private collection, on loan to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Odesa](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50950_Zhuk-White-and-Black-1912-14.jpg.webp?itok=VpAH9qYY) - ![Eine vierköpfige Familie eng beieinander sitzend und kniend — Fedir Krytschewskyj (Федір Кричевський), Family (from triptych Life), 1925-27 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50824_Krychevskyi-The-Family-1927.jpg.webp?itok=sOmy_7nx) - ![Ölgemälde, auf dem zwei junge Frauen in weißen Kleidern abgebildet sind, eine kniend vor einer Leinwand und eine weitere, die mit einer Blume in der Hand durch einen Vorhang hereinkommt — Oleksandr Muraschko (Олександр Мурашко), Terrace. Annunciation, 1907-08 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50811_Murashko-Anunciation-1902.jpg.webp?itok=_HfNKn-w) - ![Kostümentwürfe für eine Ballettänzerin und einen Balletttänzer — Anatol Petryzkyj (Анатоль Петрицький), Costume designs for the ballet ‘Eccentric Dances’ at the Moscow Chamber Ballet, 1922 — © Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50962_Petrytskyi%2C-costume-design-for-the-ballet-Eccentric-Dances-1922.jpg.webp?itok=8zEVefPc) - ![Sieben Erwachsene und drei Kinder sind um einen Fotografen versammelt — Iwan Padalka (Іван Падалка), Photographer, 1927 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-01/Ex-50529_Ivan-Padalka-Photographer-in-a-Countryside%2C-1927.jpg.webp?itok=NXbYOUfI) ## Videos **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 1)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 2)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 3)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 4)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 5)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 6)** **In the Eye of the Storm. Modernism in Ukraine (Part 7)** ## Symposium: Storms and Networks ![Coverdesign für das Magazin Avanhard in Orangetönen — Vasyl Yermilov (Василь Єрмілов), ’Avanhard’ -‘The Avant-Garde, Journal cover design, 1929 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2023-09/3.%20Yermilov%20Avant-garde%20%28Magazine%20cover%20design%29%2C%201929.jpg.webp?itok=DEgRcVFO) #### Modernisms in an extended territorial context 7 May 2024 | 9 am - 7:30 pm From 1900 onward, pivotal influences shaping the trajectory of modern art emanated from diverse Central-South-Eastern European regions. The challenge lies in defining the scope of this interconnected and evolving modernity within the broader cultural context. Where do the geopolitical demarcations of "modernity" extend? The Austrian Gallery Belvedere is hosting a scholarly symposium to engage experts in discussing these inquiries regarding the state of modernism within peripheral art centers. Event will be held in English. **Symposium: Storms and Networks (Part 1)** **Symposium: Storms and Networks (Part 2)** **Symposium: Storms and Networks (Part 3)** **Symposium: Storms and Networks (Part 4)** **Symposium: Storms and Networks (Part 5)** ## Smartify Audiotour ![Ölgemälde von männlichen Figuren, die Sägen schärfen — Oleksandr Bohomazov (Олександр Богомазов), Sharpening the Saws, 1927 — © National Art Museum of Ukraine, NAMU](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/full_content_width_no_crop/public/2023-09/2.%20Bohomazov%20Sharpening%20Saws%201927.jpg.webp?itok=i4M6VkZe) [In the Eye of the Storm. Modernisms in Ukraine](https://www.belvedere.at/node/8269) *In the Eye of the Storm. Modernisms in Ukraine* recreates the polyphony of artistic styles and identities that existed in Ukraine in the early 20th century. The exhibition tells the story of modernist artists and their experiments with national styles in a bid --- Available in: ?? ?? ?? 23 February 2024 to 2 June 2024 Lower Belvedere 15 audio stops, 40 min.