UKRAINIAN GRAFFITI : SPECIFICITY AND REGIONAL FEATURES

Abstract

The article examines the phenomenon of Ukrainian graffiti as a specific component of the visual culture of urban
space, analyzing its thematic palette and regional differentiation. The author emphasizes that the development of this art form
was influenced by both the traditions of hip-hop culture and the desire of domestic writers to integrate into the global artistic
context. The work highlights that Ukrainian graffiti has traversed a complex path from underground activity, hidden from the
general public, to public art that is actively discussed on social networks and covered in the media.
Particular attention is paid to the regional peculiarities of street art in Ukraine. It is determined that Lutsk played
a unique role in the formation of this movement due to its geographical proximity to the border, which contributed to
the faster penetration of information about street culture. The experience of Kyiv as a center of conceptual muralism is
analyzed, specifically through the work of the «Interesni Kazki» group, whose works adorn the facades of many
countries around the world and are distinguished by their philosophical and mystical themes.
The author explores the transformation of thematic accents in the works of Ukrainian artists. It is noted that attention is
usually focused on the figures of artists, national ornaments, and politics. Examples of patriotic graffiti in Dnipro, political
caricature in Odesa, and large-scale murals in Kharkiv are provided. The experience of Chernivtsi is examined separately, where
street art is represented both by legal murals on historical themes and by controversial works in courtyards and entrances. The
study also analyzes the technical specificity of Ukrainian graffiti. The author explains the low prevalence of eco-graffiti and lightgraffiti by climatic factors and a lack of specialists in cultural management. The role of festivals («Alarm», Lviv graffiti jam) and documentaries in popularizing writer culture is highlighted. It is concluded that modern graffiti in Ukraine is becoming a
significant factor in the transformation of the urban landscape, where cooperation between authorities and artists contributes to the aestheticization of cities and the attraction of tourists. Despite the fact that there is still no clear regulation of this type of
activity in legislation, today graffiti is confidently moving from the category of «vandalism» to the status of conceptual art.