KSADA INTERNATIONAL ART PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY HELD IN BELGIUM
INTERNATIONAL ART PROJECT “INSTRUCTIONS: AN ARTISTIC DIALOGUE BETWEEN ANTWERP AND KHARKIV” BY KSADA AND SINT LUCAS ANTWERPEN SUCCESSFULLY HELD IN BELGIUM
In early March 2026, a series of events within the international art project “INSTRUCTIONS: An Artistic Dialogue between Antwerp and Kharkiv” took place in Antwerp (Belgium). The project brought together students and faculty members of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts and Sint Lucas Antwerpen. The project culminated in a joint exhibition of Ukrainian and Belgian students, the premiere of a documentary film, and a short-term academic mobility programme for students and faculty members of KSADA.
International cooperation and creative dialogue between Kharkiv and Antwerp artists
Kharkiv and Antwerp share long-standing historical ties rooted in the implementation of advanced technologies and the exchange of expertise. Kharkiv’s architectural heritage still preserves buildings of Belgian entrepreneurs who contributed to the city’s development in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, despite daily shelling and the destruction of both residential buildings and important historical sites, the cooperation between the two cities represents a vital step in supporting arts education in Kharkiv and serves as a platform for mutual enrichment, the restoration of cultural bonds, and a testament to the resilience of artistic institutions.
The project “INSTRUCTIONS: An Artistic Dialogue between Antwerp and Kharkiv” was launched in September 2025 under the curatorship of Anna Kurinna, Dean of the Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies at KSADA, and Kurt Vanbelleghem, art curator at Sint Lucas Antwerpen.
For several months, students from various KSADA faculties — Alyona Chuprina, Anna Yaremenko, Kateryna Yaroshenko, Kseniia Konovalova, Lidiia Vokalchuk, Mariia Perepelitsia, Solomiia Mishchenko, and Yelizaveta Todorova — along with students from Sint Lucas Antwerpen, took part in online meetings, presentations and discussions. They worked on a joint creative assignment under the guidance of Yuliia Bondarenko, lecturer at the Department of Audiovisual Arts. The project also featured a masterclass by the renowned Dutch researcher and designer Annelys de Vet. This online collaboration enabled participants to exchange ideas, experiences, and artistic practices, creating a shared space for intercultural artistic dialogue.
Final events of the Antwerp project
The culmination of the project took place in Antwerp, where the following events were held:
– Introduction to Sint Lucas Antwerpen and the artistic life of the city;
– Workshops and public discussions;
– Creation and presentation of student artworks based on received “instructions”;
– An open exhibition of the participants’ works at the Sint Lucas Antwerpen gallery, officially opened by Maryna Tokar, First Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of KSADA.
During the opening ceremony, the Vice-Rector thanked all participants and emphasised the importance of peace, a sentiment felt deeply by the participants from Kharkiv, as peace is the foundation of creativity and life itself.
The artworks masterfully explored the intersections between the two cities through graphic, fine art, and audiovisual media.
“WE”: A Documentary on Arts Education in Kharkiv
As part of the project, the documentary film “WE” was premiered. Produced by KSADA Production (Faculty of Audiovisual Arts and Media Technologies), the film was directed by Polina Pavlenko, with Oleksandr Akerman as project leader.
The film depicts the reality of arts education in frontline Kharkiv. It tells the stories of teachers and students sharing their experiences of war, creativity, and the role of art in today’s challenging reality.
After the premiere, a discussion with the audience took place, during which viewers shared their impressions and reflections on the significance of art and culture in times of hardship.
Project Partners
The project “INSTRUCTIONS: An Artistic Dialogue between Antwerp and Kharkiv” was implemented in cooperation with:
Participation in the project was a valuable experience for KSADA students and faculty members, contributing to the development of international cooperation and the presentation of Ukrainian artistic education on the global stage.
The exhibition “INSTRUCTIONS: An Artistic Dialogue between Antwerp and Kharkiv” is scheduled to be presented at the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts later this spring.
Photo report: Yelizaveta TODOROVA
