Abstract
Since the beginning of the Russian military aggression in 2014, and especially after the full-scale invasion in 2022, there has been a growing demand in Ukraine for the redefinition of national identity as a form of cultural resistance. Museums have become active participants in this transformation, responding to urgent societal needs and reshaping their narratives under the pressure of war. This paper explores how visual elements in Ukrainian museum exhibitions contribute to the formation and perception of national identity. The focus lies on the images that greet visitors upon entering museum spaces: what do they depict, and how do they correlate with contemporary understandings of Ukrainian identity? Based on an analysis of museum projects from the past six years and visitor surveys, this research investigates how visual content in exhibitions influences collective memory and self-identification. Are the dominant images rooted in ethnographic heritage, or do they reflect more complex and evolving forms of identity? How do visitors interpret these visual messages in the context of ongoing war? This paper seeks to examine the evolving function of images in Ukrainian museums and their role in shaping cultural consciousness during a time of national crisis.
Presenters
Svitlana TymkivEducational Programs Manager, Education department, City Museum, Lviv, L'vivs'ka Oblast', Ukraine
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
National Identity, Image, Museum Exhibitions, Ukraine, War, Cultural Resistance
