The exhibition ProZori is dedicated to the work of iconic Kyiv artists—Fedir Tetyanych, Valerii Lamakh, Ada Rybachuk and Volodymyr Melnychenko (ARVM), and Florian Yuriev. Among the landmark monumental works they created, which shaped the face of postwar Kyiv, are the “Flying Saucer” at Lybidska, the mosaics of the River Port, the Central Bus Station, and Boryspil Airport, as well as panels at the high-speed tram stations.
The artistic practice of these figures extended far beyond monumental art. Their creative and research-based approaches reflected key tendencies of their time: experiments at the intersection of art and science, multimedia practices, and a search for artistic independence beyond ideological control. Each developed their own symbolic system and philosophical framework. They engaged with fundamental questions of existence and the spiritual purpose of humanity, exploring themes of infinity, immortality, and the unity of the macro- and microcosm.
Valerii Lamakh secretly authored the enigmatic Book of Schemes, in which he outlined his own worldview—a synthesis of the laws of history, art, religion, philosophy, and science. Ada Rybachuk and Volodymyr Melnychenko, inspired by their travels to the Arctic, developed a distinctive “philosophy of Life” and addressed themes of collective trauma and memory. Florian Yuriev, drawing on his gift of synesthesia, created a unique theory of the “music of color,” combining color, music, and poetry into a unified artistic system. Fedir Tetyanych developed the philosophical and aesthetic concept of Fripulya—a doctrine of the human being and the cosmos as an indivisible whole.
A focus on aesthetic exploration and apolitical positioning did not always guarantee safety. At times, authorities closely monitored “suspicious” artistic expressions, and such works became subject to strict censorship. New times have also proved unforgiving to the legacy of these visionary artists: over the past thirty years, their works have been destroyed not for ideological reasons, but for entirely practical ones. In the 1990s, nearly all of Fedir Tetyanych’s monumental works and a significant portion of Valerii Lamakh’s oeuvre were lost. Today, we are witnessing the final chapter of Florian Yuriev’s famous “Flying Saucer.” Yet imagination, visions, and dreams—seemingly ephemeral—often prove more enduring than concrete. The ideas of these Kyiv artists, far ahead of their time—planetary consciousness, collective memory, ecological thinking, and the philosophy of culture—resonate with striking relevance today. Our task is to draw attention to their legacy and ensure it is not lost.
The exhibition will feature over 200 works—painting, graphic art, and sculpture—alongside unique archival materials, personal accounts, and photographs. Some works will be shown for the first time, including a substantial selection from Valerii Lamakh’s Book of Schemes, prints from the Hiroshima cycle by Ada Rybachuk and Volodymyr Melnychenko, and more. Multimedia elements—such as mapping, animation, and sound installations—will play a key role in the project, bringing the works to life and creating a distinctive immersive experience for visitors.
📍 As part of the ProZori project, a series of exhibitions will also take place:
— “And I Dreamt a Dream. Fedir Tetyanych” at the Dukat Art Foundation, featuring works united by themes of the cosmos and infinity.
— The documentary exhibition project “When the World Collapses” at the “Living Memory” Exhibition Center, dedicated to the unrealized memorial to the Babyn Yar tragedy, developed by Ada Rybachuk and Volodymyr Melnychenko for the 1965 competition. The exhibition will present unique archival materials, graphics, sketches, and a model from the ARVM Cultural Heritage Preservation Foundation collection, highlighting the artists’ creative process and context.
— “Ada Rybachuk’s Diary” at the ARVM Museum, offering insight into the artist’s life and work—her achievements, struggles, circle of acquaintances, and personal relationship with Volodymyr Melnychenko—told through her diaries.
Organizers of the ProZori project: National Center “Ukrainian House” and Dukat Art Foundation.
Curatorial team: Olena Hrozovska, Tetiana Voloshyna, Mykhailo Kulivnyk, Kateryna Lisova, Anastasiia Yatskovska.
In cooperation with: NGO “Platform for Cultural Initiatives.”
Annual partners: Oschadbank, Visa.
Institutional partners: National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Babyn Yar,” ARVM Cultural Heritage Preservation Foundation, Lean Art Foundation, the Badritdinov Family, AIDA Charitable Foundation.
Technical partners: Zinteco Group, Front Pictures, Caparol Ukraine.
📍 Opening hours:
Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00–19:00
Monday — closed
📍 Tickets:
Full — 120 UAH
Reduced — 50 UAH (for school pupils and students)