The upheaval in Ukraine began with protests by people upset by the then-current political regime, and a new exhibit at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery gives the protester's perspective on those events. Art of the Revolution collects 50 posters, curated by Prof. Bohdan Kordan from the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage at the University of Saskatchewan, as well as first hand accounts of what happened in the country, to give a look at the how art was used to rally people.
Don Stein, Executive Director of the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, says that the posters show the different ways in which people connect and gather to protest in the modern era. The images on the wall are also accompanied by images on screens showing the posters in context, and how they were put up around Kiev. The mix of styles on display, some reflecting modern graphic influence and others being more of a throwback to earlier protest designs reflects the direct and more personal means of producing the images.
"The interesting thing about this particular public outpouring of civil disobedience is that a lot of the images were generated by personal printers at home. The graphics, design, and statements were shared electronically, so people could print 50 copies themselves and put them up all over the place... Each individual has the power of the printing press now, and that really played a part in how wide-spread the information was."
The show is very one-sided, Stein says, focusing on the Ukrainian perspective on the events, but the combination of first person accounts and the posters give an account of why the protests began and continued from that perspective. As art has always been a part of protest and revolution, the show's perspective reflects the way a movement starts and gains traction via that imagery. Stein notes that the imagery chosen also shows how pop culture influences what imagery people identify with and use to inspire.
"The world of popular culture in images is very global. Che Guevara with Ukrainian text, we know exactly what it means, that is such a strong symbol. At the same time, that is so culturally specific, that has somehow transcended now, he has become the universal revolutionary."
The show has been travelling around the country, and Yorkton was one of the cities chosen because of the strong Ukrainian connection, Stein explains. Given that many people from the city are still connected to the Ukraine, the show gives a chance for them to see that Ukrainian take on the country's current political upheaval.
Art of a Revolution runs until May 24 at the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery.
