The 6th Kyiv Biennial, titled Near East, Far West, is now open at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. This exhibition delves into the enduring impact of war and conflict, questioning why violence often goes unpunished and how art can serve as a catalyst for healing and remembrance.
Inspired by the revolutionary spirit of Ukraine’s Maidan Square protests a decade ago, the Biennale aims to continue that cultural momentum. Curator Vasily Cherepanin reflects, “It was a pivotal moment—a new historical era was beginning, interrupted by Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
The exhibition features works from artists across Europe and the Middle East, exploring themes of colonial violence, erasure, and genocide. Joanna Mytkowska, director of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, notes that the Biennale presents not just traumatic images of war but also examines the systemic violence that allows such conflicts to persist: ‘This is an exhibition that tries to show us not only the traumatic images of wars in the region, but tries to reveal the kind of systemic violence that makes these wars, this violence, still unpunished and still possible”.
One standout piece is Aykan Safoğlu’s Rosette, a mosaic made up of 13,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces. The image is based on the rosette in the waiting room of Istanbul’s Sirkeci Railway Station, a historic site for immigrants. Safoğlu encourages viewers to use their imagination to complete the picture of reality, symbolizing the fragmented nature of history and memory.
The Kyiv Biennial 2025 is open at the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw until January 18, 2026. It offers a poignant reflection on the role of art in confronting and healing from the scars of war.
Ph: art-collection-telekom.com
