CULTURAL RESISTANCE : UKRAINIAN ART IN TIMES OF WAR

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the transformation of Ukrainian art under wartime conditions and to
determine its role as a form of cultural resistance and a mechanism for the preservation and reinforcement of national
identity. The study focuses on contemporary artistic processes that have emerged or significantly intensified in response
to the ongoing war and its social, cultural, and psychological consequences.
Results. The main directions of artistic activity are identified and characterized, including visual arts, street art,
digital installations, performative practices, and participatory community-based projects. These forms function not only
as aesthetic expressions but also as important means of communication, documentation of collective experience, and
articulation of resilience. The transformation of artistic language under wartime conditions is traced, alongside the
emergence of new symbolic narratives that reflect current social challenges, trauma, solidarity, and resistance. It is
established that contemporary Ukrainian artistic processes perform not only aesthetic but also communicative,
educational, and integrative functions, contributing to the strengthening of collective memory, social cohesion, and
national identity. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive examination of contemporary artistic practices as
instruments of sociocultural interaction and symbolic resistance in wartime conditions. Particular attention is paid to
how artistic expression transforms under extreme social pressure, becoming a tool for communication, documentation,
and collective meaning-making.
The practical significance of the study lies in the potential to apply its findings to educational programs in
cultural studies, art history, and contemporary visual culture, as well as to further interdisciplinary research on artistic
responses to conflict and crisis.