The video “Liberation” (3’16) covers several issues of relevance to Ukraine by driving them to the pain threshold of tolerance. This work is a clipping from a 1992 film, picturing events in the near future. Either by mistake or intentionally*, Ukraine is shown to be part of russia which is liberated from the women’s oppression of men by black-skinned aliens. At a time when the Ukrainian military, which includes LGBTQ+ representatives, is fighting against the terrible reality of russian aggression, the majority of Ukrainians continue to have a negative perception of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ukraine. In other words, the fear of acceptance of queer communities, which Ukrainians feel, can be compared to genocide in the form of extermination of all women in the country, or the entire population of Ukraine.

This video justifies its eccentric statement by the unfortunate reality itself. And to avoid resemblance to countries which prosecute “propaganda of homosexuality” and recently declaring LGBTQ+ an extremist organization, most Ukrainians will have to decide which mentality they want to be a part of and what objectives to pursue, continuing to counter the invasion of russian “faggots”.

* The film might have been edited and produced before the independence of Ukraine from the USSR was declared.

BIOGRAPHY (source: https://voloshyngallery.art/eng.html)

Danylo Halkin (born in Dnipro in 1985) is a contemporary Ukrainian artist/curator. He had studied at Dnipropetrovsk Theatre and Arts College and at Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. In his works, he explores the concept of public space through installations, happenings, site-specific art, etc. He cooperates with state-owned cultural institutions, drawing public attention to pieces of Soviet heritage in Eastern Europe to promote their further preservation in museums and re-interpretation.

Halkin’s works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions, including Kaleidoscope of (Hi)stories. Ukrainian Art 1912–2023 (The Albertinum, Dresden),

Out Loud (Galeria Labirynt, Lublin), When Faith Moves Mountains (PinchukArtCentre, Kyiv), Transition Dialogue Talks (LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster), Europa Endlos (Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen), National Art Museum of Ukraine (Kyiv) and others.

He is a two-time nominee for PinchukArtCentre Prize (in 2011 and 2015) and the winner of the Special Prize of the award (in 2013). Halkin was shortlisted for Malevich Award (in 2014) and M17 Sculpture Prize (in 2020). He also won the Special Prize of the Art Future Prize award in 2020.