On May 13, 2026, Oleksandr SOBOLIEV, Rector of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, welcomed representatives of Chornobyl organisations from Kharkiv and the region. The guests visited the international poster exhibition dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

The curatorial tour was led by Oleg VEKLENKO, Professor of the Graphic Design Department and President of “The 4th Block” International Association of Graphic Designers. As a former liquidator of the consequences of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, Professor Veklenko spoke about the distinctive features of the authors’ interpretations of the topic. He discussed the artistic language of the posters, which convey the depth of the tragedy and its lasting impact on the global community through symbols, metaphors, and visual imagery.

The year 2026 has been officially declared in Ukraine as the year of honouring those involved in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster and commemorating the victims of the tragedy. Such cultural initiatives help preserve living memory and remind society of the importance of learning from the past.

The visitors were impressed by the project’s scale and the power of its artistic expression. They noted that the exhibition serves as an important reminder of the largest man-made disaster of the 20th century and a powerful call to preserve memory and acknowledge responsibility toward future generations.

Photo report: Davyd PONOMAROV, Anna YAREMENKO