Art against Artillery at Buch Wien
The book presentation of Art against Artillery: Ukrainian Artists at War, authored by journalist and writer Olha Volynska, took place in Vienna as part of a discussion series exploring the role of culture, art, and resilience during full-scale war.
The publication brings together in-depth interviews with Ukrainian artists and cultural practitioners who continue to create despite ongoing danger, destruction, and air raid alerts.
The event opened with an introduction to the book’s core concept — art as a form of resistance, a means of documenting pain and trauma, and a way to preserve national identity amidst devastation. Attendees were presented with a selection of artist stories, illustrating how art functions as a source of strength, memory, and hope in both frontline cities and international cultural spaces.
Participants had the opportunity to hear excerpts from interviews, engage in discussion with the author, and ask questions about creative strategies under conditions of war. A central theme of the night was cultural resistance as an essential part of the Ukrainian experience — a reminder that today Ukrainians are fighting not only for their land but also for their art, museums, monuments, history, and identity.
Notably, the book has already received international recognition, being listed among the 100 Best Books of 2025 by BÜCHERmagazin — highlighting its significance in the cultural dialogue about war, memory, and artistic resilience.
Fotos: Iryna Karpenko
