There is a big chance that Kyiv will soon get a new nucleus for its art life: artists and activist are hoping to create a cultural center at Grushevskogo art. 4b, a controversial building which has lately become the talk of the Kyiv art-crowd, and use it for non-commercial projects and as a center for artistic and public initiatives. From previous experience in activist work in Kyiv they (and everyone) know that if there is real willpower one can do anything. If ‘Art Platform’ («Мистецка Платформа») manages to win the battle for this building against other organizations, this is sure to become a great example of democracy in action, as well as of artistic freedom.

A path, covered with fallen leaves, leads up to the house at Grushevskogo 4b. Wooden planks, which are supposed to make the walking process easier, are put over mud and puddles, but still I would not recommend wearing designer shoes if you are planning to cross this ‘bridge’. The walls around this path are covered with drawings and empty picture-frames. With all this around one gets a feeling that the yard, where the controversial building is situated, is no place for those who like feeling secure and safe anywhere they go: the aura of creativity here is mixed with obvious deterioration, and the house itself, where the artists are squatting, is a tiny strange decaying building with a staircase leading up to it.

 

Outisde the house at Gruchevskogo 4b.

This new location has caused a lot of fuss among artists and activists in the last couple of days. Artists are always in the need space and today, unlike in the times of the Paris Commune when one could just invade a building, they are ready to communicate with the city administration, to renovate the building and take care of all the arrangements.

 

inside the squat

‘Art Platform’ is not the only organization willing to claim the building for itself: two other organizations are also in the talks with the administration.

 

‘Art Ptalform’ artists and activists

The heads of all three met for a discussion on the 10^th of October. Obviously the demands and proposals of the artists sound more ‘honorable’: it is not that they want to have the building just for themselves; they want to create a cultural center which would be open for the public.

 

inside the squat

When entering the building at Grushevskogo 4b one stumbles upon a man lying on the ground with his head covered by a cloak: among the poverty of the interior, the half-destroyed walls, missing window-panes and broken chairs this sight seems even more shocking that it would otherwise. As it turns out – this is not an installation or a performance, but a representative of a rivaling organization: this is his (very passive) way of claiming his right for the building.

 

Tea and discussion

Inside the house the artists are trying to create an inspiring atmosphere: there are drawing on the walls, candles, tea. However the cultural events, that the activists of Art Platform are so eagerly talking about, are still just in their planning stage.

 

The artists are trying to change the interior of the building

The ‘G4B’ («Г4Б») festival, which took place on October 1-2, had raising awareness about the city’s cultural sights’ preservation as its main aim. Regina Jost, an architect and the festival’s special guest, came to Kyiv for this occasion and presented the concept of turning the house of Grushevskogo 4b into a cultural center.

 

A poster for ‘G4B’

Thus today the squat resembles more a field of cultural battle: all the creativity is directed towards claiming the building as a space for further art-projects. Hopefully this is just a beginning of an exciting artistic venture.

At this point the artists and activists need the help and support of artists and anyone interested in creating a new art-space.

 

the squat’s interior

 

artists and activists

 

Vasiliy Cherepanin, the head of the Center for Visual Culture, dropped by to support the activist and discuss their future plans 

 

Artist Zhanna Kadyrova

 

 

Anna Landykhova

Photos by ‘Art Platform’