On 7 September, on the occasion of Jorge Danylyshyn’s visit to Ukraine, who is the Chair of the Ukrainian Cultural Society ‘Prosvita’ in the Republic of Argentina, the Holodomor Museum hosted an event dedicated to the history behind the creation of the painting ‘The Year 1933’ by the Ukrainian artist Viktor Tsymbal. Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010 and Chair of the Holodomor Museum’s Supervisory Board, attended the event. Ihor Ostash, a renowned Ukrainian diplomat and Head of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, moderated the event. We were also delighted to welcome representatives from embassies to the event: Rafael de Mello Vidal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brazil to Ukraine, and Arif Muhammad Basalam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to Ukraine, as well as heads of leading Ukrainian universities, students from the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry of of Ukraine under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Junior Diplomatic Academy.
Lesia Hasydzhak, Director General of the Holodomor Museum, explained that the painting ‘The Year 1933’ became part of our collection six years ago. During this time, the artwork has undergone restoration and research: the museum’s research fellow, Andrii Ivanets, PhD in History, studied the history of the painting’s creation and the life of its artist. This research was published, and it is available for purchase at the museum. The museum presented copies of the publication “‘The Year 1933’ by Viktor Tsymbal – a pictorial account of the Holodomor,” as well as “The Holodomor: Main Facts,” to its guests of honour so that members of the diplomatic corps could learn more about the history of the painting’s creation and its artist.
This meeting was a great opportunity to deepen one’s knowledge of this landmark work, which is included in the State Register of National Cultural Heritage. After all, Mr Danylyshyn’s family knew the artist personally – his father was a friend of Viktor Tsymbal.
Ms Elena Leticia Mikusinski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic to Ukraine, introduced the guest to those present. Yurii (Jorge) Danylyshyn is an Argentine architect of Ukrainian descent and a well-known public figure, researcher and promoter of Ukrainian cultural and historical heritage in Argentina. His family has close ties to the history of the Ukrainian community in Argentina: his father, Mykhailo Danylyshyn, was a prominent figure in the Ukrainian community in Argentina, whilst his mother, Rozalia Danylyshyn, was actively involved in the Ukrainian cultural society ‘Prosvita’.
In the 1980s, Mr Yurii joined the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian Cultural Society ‘Prosvita’ in Argentina. In 1995, he was elected Chairman of the Society’s Executive Committee for the first time. Since then, he has led ‘Prosvita’ on three occasions and continues to lead the organisation today. From 2007 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2014, he served as chairman of the Main Council of the Ukrainian Central Representation in the Argentine Republic. From 2008 to 2010, he was the secretary of its Executive Committee. He represents the Ukrainian communities of South America at the World Congress of Ukrainians.
During his speech, Yurii Danylyshyn shared some interesting and little-known facts from Viktor Tsymbal’s life:
“Tsymbal wrote a letter to the highly esteemed Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Saavedra Lamas, the first Latin American recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, requesting that the Ukrainian state be recognised as independent. From the moment he arrived in Argentina, he sought ways to ensure Ukraine became a state.
In Buenos Aires, people knew the Holodomor was occurring in Ukraine. He spoke about it and wrote articles on the subject. The year was 1933. Viktor Tsymbal’s first exhibition. He had already painted his first picture about the Holodomor. It was the first event organised by the community to mark the tragedy in Ukraine.”
Event moderator Ihor Ostash emphasised the importance of efforts made by Ukrainians in the diaspora and foreigners to convey the truth about the Holodomor in Ukraine to the world through art, the media and international organisations. Viktor Tsymbal’s painting, as well as his articles, served as a powerful voice for the truth in supporting Ukrainians.
Today, like many years ago, Ukraine once again needs unity and the world’s support in its struggle against evil. Viktor Yushchenko, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Holodomor Museum, emphasised this:
“Russia’s main ‘profession’ is neither oil, nor gas, nor round timber… Its main export is occupation, chaos and aggression. Today, it saddens me when I look at the European and American worlds. One might think — great people, great nations… They ask: ‘For whom does the bell toll?’ For you. For you! Because Russia knows no bounds in its evil… Russia ends where someone’s national history ends, where someone’s culture ends.”
The event was organised by the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Ukraine, the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide, the Ukrainian Cultural Society ‘Prosvita’ in Argentina, and the General Directorate for the Support of Foreign Missions. We would like to express our sincere thanks to you, our friends, for the opportunity to learn new things, broaden our horizons and meet interesting people!
Photo courtesy of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Ukraine.
