Ukrainian artists fighting back with radical poster art

Posters are one of the key means for artists in Ukraine who choose to reflect the war effort. Sunflowers are a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and resilience. Sunseed Art is an important platform for Ukrainian artists who have been creating support Ukraine posters since the early days of the war in February, according to a statement on their website.

The platform was founded by artist and curator Olesya Drashkaba and investor Natalia Popovich. It was launched earlier this year with an exhibition at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The site features images that can be downloaded and printed at a cost of 70 euros each.

Only ten percent of the profits go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Come Back Alive fund to help the military, or Voices of Children, which provides psychological support to children who survived the war. 50% of the proceeds will go to support Ukrainian artists. 40% are earmarked for the maintenance of this project.

According to Sunseed Art, freedom has always been the most important idea of ​​Ukraine, and the Ukraine war poster has always been part of the cultural resistance of Ukrainians.

“[The Ukrainian artists] Yuriy Narbut, Vasyl Krychevskyi, and Nil Khasevych created symbols and powerful images of the Ukrainian struggle in their posters and graphics a hundred years ago. For example, Nil Khasevych, who could not fight due to his limited physical capabilities, wrote: ‘I cannot fight with weapons. But I fight with a cutter and a chisel. I want the world to know that the liberation struggle continues, that Ukrainians are fighting.’”

Ukrainian posters were also an important part of the Maidan Revolution, a 2014 uprising against Russia-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. At that time, many Ukrainian graphic artists created messages illustrating the desire of Ukrainians to choose an alternative government.