We, the undersigned, condemn SVA galleries and the SVA for supporting, giving space, and promoting an exhibition that exploits Ukrainian pain, genocide, and devastation caused by Russian aggression.

In a show promoted with a Ukrainian flag under the guise of Solidarity with Ukraine, the exhibition curated by a curator in Moscow with no connections to Ukraine calls to submit abstracted images by Russians while forbidding any image from Ukraine right now.

Solidarity with Ukraine means giving Ukrainians voices and space.

This performative allyship does the opposite. It appropriates Ukrainian pain to promote a show that focuses on Russians. This does not help Ukrainians.

Even the show's title “Perovorot” displays ignorance. The word “Perevorot” has long been used by Russian propaganda to justify its violence in Ukraine. The show whitewashes the history of Ukrainian oppression and the current violent invasion.

Ukrainian families have been suffering from Russian oppression and colonization for generations. Russia continuously attempts to erase Ukrainian language and culture. At this very moment, they are erasing Ukrainian cities, kidnapping and deporting children, executing civilians, killing international reporters who are trying to shed light on the situation.

The Russian curator, Natasha Konyukova, is ashamed to use her country’s flag, so she, once again, appropriates ours.

We demand you remove the Ukrainian flag and any mention of Ukraine from the show and its promotion done by and about Russians. Don’t use Ukrainian pain, history,  identity to make the show palatable. 

https://www.galleries.sva.edu/perevorot