The Opening of Oleksii Borysov’s Exhibition "War Diary" at the Heinrich Semiradsky Art Gallery

On February 27, the Heinrich Semiradsky Art Gallery opened an exhibition featuring paintings, graphics, and art objects by artist Oleksii Borysov titled "War Diary."

The event was attended by Natalia Ivanova, Director of the YermilovCentre for Contemporary Art; Oleh Veklenko, academician of the National Academy of Arts; and Zhanneta Soloviova, Honored Artist of Ukraine.

The essence of a diary is to record thoughts and emotions, to comprehend them, release them, and move forward. For Oleksii Borysov, his diary took the form of various materials he managed to find — paper he liked, cardboard, wooden panels, canvas, the walls of his studio, slabs used to cover war-damaged windows, matchboxes, and cigarette packs.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Oleksii Borysov has been actively engaged in volunteer activities to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces while also working in the theater. As the artist himself noted: "Daily drawing happens in the theater, in the studio, at home — wherever I am, I am always creating something. The technical execution varies, depending on what is at hand... This is truly a diary. All the works are honest, non-commercial... It is my artistic exhale about the war. If something is not about the war, then it is in defiance of it."

The exhibition consists of several series created from February 24, 2022, to the present, including: "Way here," "Kharkiv"/"Kharkiv Holds On," "My Sea," "Light Will Prevail," "The Cross," "Military Tales," "Way Home," "Йбнруz," and "Exit."

The exhibition will run until March 29.

Location: Svobody Square, 6, Northern Building of the University, Heinrich Semiradsky Art Gallery (entrance from the side of the Derzhprom building).

Admission is free.