Sense of Safety, by Antiwarcoalition
12 Aug 2024
Our friends of Antiwarcoalition.art and YermilovCentre present ‘Sense of Safety’.
Hosted at the YermilovCentre in Kharkiv that turned out to be one of the safest places in the city and occasionally serving as a shelter, the exhibition delves into the notion of safety amidst impending disaster and profound discomfort. It explores how we devise tools to stabilize ourselves in the face of fragility, questioning what truly guarantees stability and whether there is any place that offers genuine safety or merely the illusion of it. The exhibition examines various strategies of stabilization, from superstitious objects and rituals to automatic actions and collective educational practices.
This international exhibition empowers the residents of Kharkiv to create a sense of unity and interconnectedness, reimagining the art institution as both a literal and metaphorical shelter, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity. The ‘Sense of Safety’ expands the conversation to an array of cultural organizations and artists across Europe, establishing a network of solidarity and shared experiences that underscore the deceptive nature of safety amidst crisis.
The exhibition brings together works by 31 artists and collectives from over 10 countries, featuring diverse artistic practices such as video, painting, photography, installation, sculpture, and more. By presenting different perspectives and perceptions of safety, the project invites visitors to see safety as an infrastructure of care, communication, and community. Running from August 29 to November 17, the exhibition aims to build a support mechanism that bridges Kharkiv and the global community.
Around the exhibition they create an open network of cross-institutional events, which they call the ‘Bridges of Solidarity’. The Bridges are an essential part of the project. They encompass a range of cross-institutional events, from elaborate multi-location performances to subtle installations such as a single 2 monitor in a gallery window or lobby.
The aim of the Bridges is to create a sense of involvement and connectedness, letting the people of Kharkiv know that they are not forgotten. Moreover, with the help of the Bridges, we seek to raise awareness worldwide about the humanitarian catastrophe occurring here and now in Kharkiv, where the fight for democratic values persists.
The Bridges already include over 20 events in 12 countries, both online and offline, to foster mutual support and understanding. The initiators are still welcoming institutions to join them. To participate, email them at info@antiwarcoalition.art with the subject: Yermilov Bridges of Solidarity – [Your Name/Organisation]
You can subscribe to the Antiwarcoalition’s Instagram and Facebook pages to stay updated on events in your countries, cities, and friendly spaces. Soon the project’s online platform will be launched, making it easier to access information about project events.
