On October 30, 2026, a solemn unveiling ceremony for the memorial “(Un)extinguished Light of Those (Not) Born for War” took place on the grounds of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, dedicated to artists whose lives were cut short by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

This memorial space honours painters, sculptors, designers, educators, and other members of the artistic community who lost their lives defending Ukraine or became victims of Russian aggression. It honours people who could have continued creating, teaching, bringing new ideas to life and exploring new artistic worlds, but whose lives and creative journeys were cut short by the war.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of state and local authorities, the KSADA leadership, members of the academic and artistic communities, veteran organisations, the clergy, and the families of fallen artists.

In his speech, Rector of KSADA Oleksandr SOBOLIEV outlined the background and significance of the international memorial and art project “A Place of Presence: Memory, Creativity, Life”, within which the memorial was created. He emphasised that preserving the memory of fallen artists is not only an important part of the Academy’s history, but also a moral responsibility toward those who shaped the academic community, contributed to Ukrainian culture, and lost their lives as a result of Russian aggression. The unveiling of the memorial aims to preserve their names and creative legacy, making their memory an integral part of the Academy’s life and passing it down to future generations.

Among the distinguished guests were Natalia OSADCHA, Adviser to the Head of the Kharkiv Regional Council; Tetiana MARAKHOVSKA, Deputy Director of the Kharkiv City Council’s Department of Culture; Archpriest Dmytro ISHCHUK, Dean of the Kharkiv-Poltava Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine; and Viktor KOVTUN, Head of the Kharkiv Branch of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. In their addresses, they spoke of the irreparable loss and the grief of families, the importance of preserving the memory of fallen artists, their creative achievements, and their contribution to Ukrainian culture. Particular attention was paid to social cohesion, mutual support, and the need to honour those who gave their lives for Ukraine or fell victim to Russian aggression. Speakers also highlighted the significance of the event for Kharkiv and its artistic community as a crucial step in creating a shared space of remembrance, reflecting on losses, and preserving the connection between generations of artists.

The presence of the families of artists who lost their lives gave the ceremony particular significance. Among them was Kateryna DERBILOVA, wife of artist Anton DERBILOV. Representatives of the veteran community also attended the event, including Dmytro BONDARENKO, Head of the Veterans’ Organisation. Their presence highlighted the personal dimension of every loss and the importance of preserving the memory of those who died not only within their families, but also in the life of the community and the city’s cultural landscape.

The idea and artistic concept of the memorial were presented by its creator, sculptor Oleksandr RIDNYI. He explained the imagery behind the composition, stressing that despite the lives and creative paths cut short by war, the presence of the artists remains in their works, cultural heritage, and memory of those who knew them.

Speeches were also delivered by Oleksandr DEMCHENKO and Vladyslav YUDIN, who contributed to the implementation of the project and the creation of the memorial. Their collaborative work with the author enabled the artistic concept to be brought into physical form, establishing a new space of remembrance on the Academy grounds.

The memorial was created as part of the “A Place of Presence: Memory, Creativity, Life” project, implemented by KSADA with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation under the “Culture. Regions” grant programme.

May the memory of the artists whose lives were taken by the war live on forever. Their light continues to shine through art, in our hearts, and in our shared memory.