We are used to celebrating Kyiv Day with declarations of love for the city’s green hills, blossoming streets, majestic cathedrals, the best cafés in the world, the warmest raves, and the most beautiful people. But despite the wonderful May weather, for which we are endlessly grateful to the city authorities, today we want to talk about the communities for whom there is no place in this city: mothers with babies, veterans and service members, the queer community, older people, and, ultimately, artists and curators. Accessible environments, inclusive toilets, municipal art centres, cinemas, and libraries are giving way to playgrounds for developers, restaurateurs, and public-private partnerships.
These days, another all-too-typical takeover is taking place at 22 Nahirna Street—a building that, for the past six years, has housed the studios of many artists dear to us. It was with regular studio visits to Nahirna that our gallery’s programme began eight years ago. Many exhibitions at The Naked Room grew out of conversations about art that took place there, including projects by Lucy Ivanova, Anton Saienko, Vitaliy Kokhan, Krystyna Melnyk, Kateryna Lysovenko, and Yehor Antsyhin.
Two weeks ago, more than 40 artists were told to vacate the building by 31 May. So instead of celebrating Kyiv Day, they have been forced to urgently search for new spaces for their practice, organise the transport of works and belongings, and once again plan renovations within new walls. You can support the community by adding one of the works presented at the Nahirna22 Residents Art Fair to your own collection. The event takes place as part of Kyiv Art Days.
Participating artists include Yuriy Bolsa, Maria Drobot, Vitaliy Kokhan, Natalia Lisova, Maksym Mazur, Oleksandr Meleshko, Anton Saienko, Anna Taradina, Sasha Luniova, Ceramics Studio 318, and others.
