Authors

Discussion

This presentation explores the multifaceted theft of Ukrainian art, examining both symbolic and physical dimensions of cultural appropriation. Symbolically, it addresses the systematic assimilation of Ukrainian heritage into Russian cultural narratives, including the erasure of Ukrainian identity among artists and the reframing of Ukrainian contributions within Russian art history. Physically, it investigates the expropriation of cultural artifacts from Ukrainian museums during the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, alongside the deliberate destruction of art schools and works of art.

The consequences of this colonial legacy are profound: Ukrainian artworks have been relocated to Russian museums, stripped of their original context and identity. This pattern continues in the present day, with Ukrainian museums being looted or destroyed during ongoing conflicts, such as the Kherson Art Museum, the Mariupol Museum, and the Ivankiv Museum of Local History. Furthermore, archaeological excavations in occupied territories and the inclusion of Ukrainian collections in "Russian state funds" (e.g., the Donetsk Art Museum) exemplify the persistent imperial practices of cultural appropriation.

This analysis underscores the urgent need to reclaim and protect Ukrainian art and cultural heritage in the face of ongoing colonial erasure.