Executed Renaissance

The aim of this project was to shed light on the era of the “Executed Renaissance”—a tragic period in Ukrainian history when the Soviet regime systematically repressed and annihilated an entire generation of artists, intellectuals, and scholars. On the one hand, it was a time of brutal persecution, imprisonment, and executions; on the other, it was a period of cultural flourishing, when Ukrainian literature, art, and philosophy reached remarkable heights, embodying the strength and resilience of national spirit.

Through this project, I sought to draw parallels between our nation’s past and the present, emphasizing the cyclical nature of history. The struggle for the right to exist, to preserve language, culture, and identity, continues today. Once again, Ukraine is facing war and attempts at cultural erasure, yet, just like a century ago, we are also witnessing a new wave of creativity, resilience, and national self-awareness.

This project is not only an act of remembrance but also a statement that culture always outlasts violence, and that art has the power to regenerate even under the most tragic of conditions.