Ukraine Season

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hackney has been proud to welcome many Ukrainians to the borough, through the Council’s Homes for Ukraine initiative.

As a borough of sanctuary, it is our pleasure to learn more about the lives and culture of our Ukrainian guests.  A short season of events and exhibitions will showcase the work of Ukrainian artists and authors in Hackney, throughout June 2023.

Ukraine Season

Artists Dasha Podoltseva and Elena Orap. Photo credit: Elena Michajlowska

Underpinning the season is an exhibition in three locations in Hackney called Fragile Brutalism by two Ukrainian artists, Dasha Podoltseva and Elena Orap (pictured right), exploring the notion of home. 

The work focuses on the importance and the fragility of home. The artists reflect on Ukrainian modernist prefabricated buildings known as "panelki", whose destruction has become a powerful symbol of the brutality endured by civilians during the Russian-Ukrainian war. 

The exhibition aims to encourage reflection on what we share across borders, when it comes to notions of home and the reality or threat of its loss.

The initiative will form part of the London Festival of Architecture, a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making which aims to open up discussions around architecture, test new ideas and uncover and promote new talent.

Exhibition: Fragile Brutalism

Monday 12 - Friday 30 June

The artworks explore the notion of home at three locations in Hackney:

  • Stephen Taylor Architects, De Beauvoir Estate, 23-29 De Beauvoir Road, N1 5SF

  • Billboard at Kingsland Road / Enfield Road, N1 5AX

  • MAPP, 160 Old Street, Shoreditch, EC1V 9BP

All artworks can be viewed from the pavement.

Accompanying Events

Talented authors and poets from Ukraine are also taking part in our Ukraine season and will feature in two accompanying events in Hackney’s libraries, one of which takes place during Refugee Week.

Story-telling for Children and Poster-making

Tuesday 6 June, 4pm-5.30pm

Shoreditch Library, 80 Hoxton Street, N1 6LP

Listen to Ukrainian library staff read stories for children aged 5+, written by Ukrainian authors, then join in a poster-making workshop exploring what ‘Home’ means to you.  A selection of completed posters will be exhibited in Shoreditch Library and also on De Beauvoir Estate, as part of the event on 15 June (see below).

(Un)Common Trajectories. Post-War Modernist Housing in Ukraine and the UK

Tuesday 13 June, 6pm-9pm

Stephen Taylor Architects, De Beauvoir Estate, 23-29 De Beauvoir Road, N1 5SF 

A discussion exploring the shared and divergent experiences of modernist social housing in the UK and Ukraine, including its history, present and possible future, featuring Jane Pavitt (Zaha Hadid Foundation), Michael Romyn (Queen Mary University of London), Stephen Taylor Architects and other guests. More information.

Notions of Home and Loss in Times of War and Peace 

Thursday 15 June, 6pm-9pm

Stephen Taylor Architects, De Beauvoir Estate, 23-29 De Beauvoir Rd, London N1 5SF 

An informal, drop-in community event with Ukrainian music and food.  This will be an opportunity to reflect on what is happening in Ukraine, and also to explore together what ‘home’ means, how it feels to be confronted with the reality or threat of its loss, and what we share in terms of our ideas of ‘home’.

Ukraine Season is supported by Hackney Council, School of Architecture and Cities (University of Westminster), Stephen Taylor Architects, MAPP, Old Street Partnership Limited, Humdingers Catering, and Jack Arts.