Donations from a lecture given by a researcher of the Museum supported the Ukrainian Armed Forces

On 13 June, at the ‘Modi’ Gallery in Kyiv, Andrii Ivanets, a senior research fellow at the Holodomor Museum, led a public discussion entitled ‘Viktor Tsymbal – an outstanding artist, defender of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and a man of truth’. The organisers of the event: the ‘Real Science’ project, the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide, and the ‘Modi’ Gallery.

A. Ivanets spoke about the life of the artist Viktor Tsymbal (1902–1968), who grew up in a patriotic Ukrainian family. Victor Tsymbal volunteered for the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic at the age of 16 and fought for Ukrainian independence. He received his artistic education in Europe and gained recognition in Argentina as one of South America’s finest graphic artists, whilst also practising painting. Forced to emigrate, V. Tsymbal longed to return to Ukraine, took a constant interest in the state of affairs in his homeland, and was an activist and patron of the Ukrainian diaspora. Between 1933 and 1936, the artist painted what is probably the first pictorial work depicting the Holodomor: the famous painting ‘The Year 1933.’ In 1933, he called for aid for starving Ukrainians and later told the world about the crime of genocide committed against the Ukrainian nation by the communist regime based in Moscow. Today, the painting ‘The Year 1933’ is one of the most valuable works of art in the Holodomor Museum’s collection.

Following the scholar’s lecture and presentation, there was a lively exchange of views amongst the event’s participants regarding Viktor Tsymbal’s life and work, the policy of forcibly suppressing the crime of genocide against Ukrainians in the USSR, and the actions of truth-seekers who, in the face of opposition from the Moscow-based communist regime, strove to convey factual information about the situation in Ukraine in 1932–1933.

During the event, the public dialogue was broadcast live on YouTube through the ‘Real Science’ project page. You can watch the recording at this link.

Before the scientist’s lecture, a fundraiser was announced to support the ‘Seraphim’ unmanned aerial vehicle battalion and the unit where artist, scientist, and museum curator Oleksandr Khomenko serves. All funds raised have been donated to the military.