On May 21, 2026, the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts hosted the opening of the project “Demarcation. Never Again“, created by the team from the Center of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU).

The project was initiated by Yaroslava YAKOVLIEVA, who noted that the exhibition is intended to convey a series of mental images associated with memories of Ukrainian cities damaged or destroyed as a result of the war. She emphasised the importance of preserving memory and reconstructing cultural identity through artistic expression.

The exhibition demonstrates how the war has divided life into “before” and “after”, placing cities on the boundary between existence and destruction, life and memory.

A decisive factor in the creation of the project was the collection of first-hand testimonies from residents of six Ukrainian cities that have been in a state of “demarcation” since February 2022.

During the opening, Vladyslav KUTATELADZE, Vice-Rector for Research, highlighted the research component of the exhibition, which allows for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of memory and its role in shaping cultural identity.

Professor Oleg VEKLENKO of the Department of Graphic Design stressed the importance of cooperation between the Academy and the Ukrainian Catholic University and the exceptional relevance of this project.

The exhibition became a testament to the fact that even in times of destruction, memory and culture remain alive, creating a space for dialogue and shared reflection on the past.

We invite everyone to visit the exhibition at the KSADA Library until June 21, 2026.