Women at War: 12 Ukrainian Artists
Yevgenia Belorusets | Oksana Chepelyk | Olia Fedorova | Alena Grom | Zhanna Kadyrova | Alevtina Kakhidze | Dana Kavelina | Lesia Khomenko | Vlada Ralko | Anna Scherbyna | Kateryna Yermolaeva | Alla Horska (1929–70) | curated by Monika Fabijanska
August 17—December 8, 2024
Chicago Cultural Center, Michigan Avenue Galleries, 1st Floor East

Women at War features works by a selection of the leading contemporary women artists working in Ukraine, and provides context for the current war, as represented in art across media. Several works in the exhibition were made immediately following February 24, 2022, when Russia began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine; others date from the ten years of war following the annexation of Crimea and the creation of separatist Donetsk and Luhansk “People’s Republics” in Donbas in 2014.

War is central to history. History has been written (and painted) by men. This exhibition provides a platform for women narrators of history and also examines gendered perspectives of war. Women are generally absent from the historical accounts of war, but violating a woman is seen as a violation of land and nation. Media images reinforce the perception of gender divide. But is war indeed gendered? Women comprise c. 25% of the Ukrainian armed forces. Russian soldiers rape Ukrainian civilians of all and no genders, including adult men. Yet, the majority’s experience remains tied to the traditional gender roles. Many artists in this exhibition struggle with the notion of victimhood and pose the question in what way women have agency during war.

The exhibition also offers an insight into Ukrainian and other Eastern European feminisms, which are significantly different from the Western mold. It contributes to the discourse about how national identity is tied to the perception of women’s role in society. There are parallels between the fight for Ukraine’s independence and the fight for the equality of Ukrainian women. They stem from the paradoxes of the Soviet Union, where early modernist, anti-nationalist, and feminist promises became but a fig leaf of propaganda for the increasingly brutal and misogynist patriarchal regime.

An independent Ukraine, burdened with its colonial past, the unimaginable wounds of the 20th century (the Holodomor, two world wars, and the Holocaust), and the actuality of a crisis, became obsessed with history. Ukrainian art of the 2010s was largely focused on the discussion of whether national identity should draw directly upon the short period of pre-Soviet independence or include the legacy of the Ukrainian SSR. The new generation of artists turned their attention to historiography – how history is written, who writes it, who and what remains invisible. Soviet painting, especially the interpretations of WWII, came into focus for many. Others organized around the critique of decommunization – the destruction of Soviet monuments and mosaics in Donbas spearheaded by the post-Maidan government – and turned towards the blanked-out pages of history.

The recordings of four conversations with the exhibition artists moderated by the curator are available online at Fridman Gallery and YouTube

The exhibition, curated by Monika Fabijanska, was listed among ten best art exhibitions of 2022 by both The Washington Post and Frieze.

Chicago-based critic Susan Snodgrass published an interview with Monika Fabijanska on Women at War in ARTMargins (October 2023).
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Admission is FREE
Open Daily, 10am–5pm
Exhibitions close 15 minutes before the building closes
(Closed Holidays)

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From the elevated lines: exit at Washington/Wabash and walk east.
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Served by Michigan Avenue buses 3, 4, 19, 20, 26, 60, 66, 124, 143, 147, 151, 157 and Washington St. buses 4, J14, 20, 56, 66, 147

Programming Schedule
Friday, October 18

Join us for a captivating evening exploring the “Women at War” exhibition on Friday, October 18, 2024. Immerse yourself in the compelling narratives and evocative artworks that highlight the experiences of women during times of conflict.

5:30pm
Guided Tour with Curator Monika Fabijanska
Michigan Avenue Galleries, 1st Floor East

Explore the exhibition through the expert eyes of curator Monika Fabijanska. Discover the intricate stories and powerful visuals that bring to life the experiences of Ukrainian women in wartime, as Monika shares her vision and the story behind each piece.

6:30-8pm
Exclusive Interview: Monika Fabijanska with Critic Susan Snodgrass
Millennium Park Room, 5th Floor South

Engage in a thought-provoking conversation between the exhibition curator Monika Fabijanska and renowned Chicago-based art critic Susan Snodgrass. Delve deeper into the themes of the exhibition, discuss the impact of art in documenting history, the potential of feminist historiography, the realities of life under war in Ukraine, and gain unique insights into the creative process behind “Women at War.”

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with fellow art enthusiasts, gain a deeper understanding of the pivotal roles women have played in shaping history, and celebrate the power of art to convey profound stories.

We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of discovery, dialogue, and artistic excellence.

Monika Fabijanska is a New York-based independent art historian and curator. Prior to the touring exhibition Women at War (2022), she curated Betsy Damon. Passages: Rites and Rituals (La MaMa Galleria) listed among The New York Times best shows of 2021, ecofeminism(s) (Thomas Erben Gallery, 2020), and groundbreaking The Un-Heroic Act: Representations of Rape in Contemporary Women’s Art in the U.S. (John Jay College CUNY) listed among Hyperallergic’s best art shows of 2018. Fabijanska initiated the idea and provided curatorial consulting for The Museum of Modern Art’s retrospective exhibition of the sculptor Alina Szapocznikow (2012). She is currently working on a transnational museum exhibition, supported with a 2023 Curatorial Research Fellowship of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, co-writing a book about performance and ecofeminist artist Betsy Damon, and teaches Curatorial Practice at the New York University. monikafabijanska.com

Susan Snodgrass is a Chicago-based critic and editor who writes about contemporary art, material art practices, public art, spatial politics, and the built environment. She is a member of the Editorial Collective of ARTMargins Online, devoted to contemporary art in East-Central Europe and other global margins and for whom she is also Senior Editor for Special Projects. She is the author of the book Inside the Matrix: The Radical Designs of Ken Isaacs (Half Letter Press, 2019), and her articles have appeared in Artforum, Art in America, Textile: Cloth and Culture, among others. She is a 2018 recipient of a Creative Capital/Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for her blog, In/Site: Reflections on the Art of Place, which explores art, architecture, and urbanism, and a finalist for the 2019 Dorothea and Leo Rabkin Foundation Arts Journalist Award.
Saturday, October 19

1pm & 3pm
Curator-Led Tour
Michigan Avenue Galleries, 1st Floor East

Join us on Saturday, October 19, 2024, for an insightful journey through the “Women at War” exhibition with curator Monika Fabijanska. These exclusive tours offer a deeper understanding of the powerful stories and artistic expressions that highlight the often-overlooked experiences of women in wartime.

Each tour will provide an intimate look at the artworks, offering unique insights into the creative process and the historical contexts that shaped these powerful pieces. Monika Fabijanska will guide you through the exhibition, sharing her curatorial vision and the narratives that connect the works on display.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply curious to learn more about the intersection of art and history, these tours promise to enrich your understanding of the pivotal roles women have played in shaping the world through their resilience and strength.

Official Website

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Tags: Alena Grom, Alevtina Kakhidze, Alla Horska, Anna Scherbyna, Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, Dana Kavelina, Kateryna Yermolaeva, Lesia Khomenko, Loop, Monika Fabijanska, Oksana Chepelyk, Olia Fedorova, Vlada Ralko, Women at War: 12 Ukrainian Artists, Yevgenia Belorusets, Zhanna Kadyrova