“35. Ukraine. A Memory That Continues” is an exhibition project of contemporary Ukrainian art, conceived and curated by Nataliia Maloholovko and dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence. The exhibition symbolically opened on 24 August 2026, Ukraine’s Independence Day, thirty-five years after the country declared its independence.
Developed through an international Open Call, the project brings together 35 works by Ukrainian artists, one for each year of independence. The number 35 thus becomes the conceptual framework of the exhibition: 35 years, 35 works, 35 stories, coming together to form a collective narrative of contemporary Ukraine.
The curatorial journey explores themes of identity, memory, land, home, war, loss, forced migration, hospitality, resilience, and hope. The war is presented not only through direct representation, but also through universal images and symbols capable of transforming individual experiences into a shared narrative.
The figure of the mother becomes a metaphor for Ukraine; cranes evoke both the souls of those who have been lost and Ukrainians forced to leave their country; land and water represent belonging, memory, and continuity. Images of the places left behind enter into dialogue with those of new places of life.
One of the central themes of the project is the relationship between the lost home, the remembered home, and the new home. Italian and Swiss landscapes featured in the exhibition reflect the experience of being welcomed and introduce the concept of a “second home”, creating a dialogue between Ukraine and Europe.
The exhibition was first presented at Studio d’Arte ArtLab in Verbania, Italy. The opening was attended by Olena Gryschenko, Consul of Ukraine, representing the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan, together with representatives of local institutions, the cultural sector, and the Italian and Ukrainian communities.
Conceived as a travelling exhibition project, the exhibition can be adapted to different venues and international contexts. “35. Ukraine. A Memory That Continues” presents art as a space for memory, encounter, and cultural diplomacy, portraying a Ukraine defined not only by war, but also by its culture, identity, memory, and capacity to build its future.
