VISUAL CODES OF UKRAINIAN CITIES IN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ WORKS

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the visual codes of Ukrainian cities as represented in the works
of contemporary artists, considering the national sociocultural context. The study of urban imagery in contemporary art
provides valuable insights into how cities function as carriers of historical memory, cultural identity, and social
narratives.
Methodology of the research. The research employs an interdisciplinary approach, combining art history,
cultural studies, and semiotics. Content analysis was employed to identify and interpret visual codes and recurrent
motifs in Ukrainian contemporary art. This methodology allows for an in-depth exploration within the symbolic, social,
and gendered aspects of contemporary urban representations.
Results. The study demonstrates that contemporary artists utilize visual codes to reinterpret and decontextualize
Ukrainian cities, transforming urban landscapes into instruments of cultural communication. Through these
representations, artists articulate social, historical, and political narratives while contributing to the construction and
reflection of national identity. The visual language of Ukrainian cityscapes illustrates how art becomes a medium of
national self-reflection.
The novelty. The research systematizes the main approaches to visual coding in the depiction of Ukrainian cities
by contemporary artists. It highlights how urban imagery functions as a medium for preserving cultural memory and
addressing contemporary societal challenges, offering new perspectives on the interaction between art, cityscapes, and
identity.
The practical value. The research results can serve as a basis for further studies in urban visual culture and
contemporary art. They also provide guidance for artists, curators, art critics, and cultural institutions in creating,
presenting, and interpreting city-based artworks.