elsewhereland – Traveling exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian art (2026–2027)

The traveling exhibition elsewhereland presents contemporary artistic perspectives from Ukraine in the face of displacement, loss, and resilience. Developed as a collaboration between Office Ukraine / tranzit.at with the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS) , the exhibition will be shown from January 2026 to the end of 2027 in approximately ten Austrian cultural forums and diplomatic missions worldwide.

The project brings together ten Ukrainian artists, most of whom live in exile in Europe. It raises the international profile of the current Ukrainian art scene and sends a strong signal of Austria's solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

A space of displacement and resilience

The title elsewhereland evokes the “other place”—physically, emotionally, and culturally. The Russian war of aggression has forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homeland and live elsewhere—in exile or as internally displaced persons. For artists, these new realities are characterized by loss and existential uncertainty, while even familiar spaces within Ukraine have become places of alienation, violence, and danger.

The participating artists address themes such as flight, migration, mobility, trauma, memory, and identity, navigating the contradictions of war and exile. Their works explore states of isolation, cultural fragmentation, and uncertainty, yet simultaneously reveal gestures of belonging and inner strength.

Art as resistance and dialogue

Not only do the artists themselves move through their personal elsewhereland ; their works also travel independently around the world and enter new cultural contexts. In doing so, they open up dialogues that concern us all: questions about origin, values, and the urgent need for cultural reorientation in times of war.

The exhibition shows how displaced Ukrainians contribute to cultural and social transformation processes in their host countries and refers to art as a medium of resistance, reflection and solidarity.

Participating artists:

Yehor Antsyhin, Anatoly Belov, Mark Chehodaiev, Olha Horiunova, Lucy Ivanova, Yana Kononova, Kateryna Lysovenko, Anastasiia Mamay, Viktoriia Rozentsveih, Maryna Shtanko

Curatorial concept

Office Ukraine

jury

• Polina Baitsym (art historian)
• Hedwig Saxenhuber (curator)

All information about the exhibition can be found here: artistshelp-ukraine.at/

Statements from cooperation partners and artists regarding the exhibition project

Since the outbreak of Russia's war of aggression, supporting Ukraine in its global cultural endeavors has become a key focus of Austria's international cultural network. The exhibition "elsewhereland" therefore fits perfectly into our series of worldwide projects with Ukrainian artists, showcasing their impressive artistic exploration of themes such as migration, mobility, trauma, memory, and identity. With "elsewhereland," the international cultural network gains another tool to express Austria's solidarity with Ukraine and to provide Ukrainian artists with a platform for their important messages

Regina Rusz , Ambassador / Head of Section V – International Cultural Affairs / Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria

Since the beginning of the large-scale Russian war of aggression, the BMWKMS has supported Ukrainian refugee artists with numerous scholarships and funding projects to enable them to continue their artistic practice in exile. With the international traveling exhibition "elsewhereland," we are creating a platform for visibility, cultural exchange, and social participation. Art in exile thus becomes an expression of resilience, opens up new perspectives, and enriches our society in a lasting way

Theresia Niedermüller , Head of Section for Art and Culture / Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport of the Republic of Austria

Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale war of aggression, Office Ukraine has been providing concrete support on many levels for Ukrainian artists of all disciplines, primarily in Austria. According to Statistics Austria, around 88,000 Ukrainians who came to Austria because of the war are living there. We have been working
with artists and cultural professionals since March 2022 and have been contacted by more than 2,100 people so far. We are particularly pleased that this collaborative project will allow us to present current works by Ukrainian artists not only in the domestic but also in an international context over a period of two years. In addition, we hope to draw public attention to the continuing precarious situation in Ukraine.

Office Ukraine

This exhibition is an opportunity to showcase my work and draw attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine – as well as to issues of migration, which will increasingly concern us in the future. For me, it is of paramount importance to feel safe in a country where I can work and where culture and art are valued. Not every country is willing to invest in culture, yet culture is one of the highest indicators of a society – it reveals how developed and humane it is

Anastasiia Mamay , artist

Living and working in wartime Ukraine means accepting a state of permanent insecurity. Daily life is characterized by the proximity of destruction, tragic news, and the awareness that nothing can be postponed. Under these circumstances, artistic creation becomes both a necessity and a form of responsibility: giving shape to experiences, remaining attentive to what is happening during the war, but also beyond its immediate scope. The war sharpens our sensitivity not only to its own violence, but also to other forms of injustice, trauma, and dispossession. Participating in an international project allows me to continue working from Ukraine while simultaneously entering a shared space of reflection that extends beyond its borders. For me, it is not just about visibility, but about exchange and continuity—about the possibility of transforming lived experiences into a language that resonates elsewhere

Yana Kononova , artist

It means a great deal to me to be part of this international exhibition. I feel a strong connection to the format of a traveling exhibition and the concept of elsewhereland – the idea that the exhibition itself becomes a place, a platform that carries the works with it as they travel

Entering new contexts and fostering new dialogues. In this sense, this is the right space to present my work. It offers the appropriate framework that this topic requires.

Mark Chehodaiev , artist

About Office Ukraine – Support for Ukrainian Artists

Office Ukraine was founded shortly after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. It supports Ukrainian artists and cultural workers of all disciplines in Austria, connects them with institutions, and helps them find jobs, artist residencies, and exhibition and performance opportunities.

The primary goal of Office Ukraine, which is represented in Austria with offices in Vienna (tranzit.at) , Graz (< rotor >) and until September 2025 in Innsbruck (Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen), is to support displaced cultural workers to continue their artistic work in their respective
fields and to promote long-term cooperation between artists from Ukraine and the Austrian art scene.

Office Ukraine was founded in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport / BMWKMS, tranzit.at, < rotor > Centre for Contemporary Art, Künstler*innenhaus Büchsenhausen and civil society and is financed by BMWKMS.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de

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