Veronika Hapchenko shelter, 2022

Born in 1995, Veronika Hapchenko studied stage design at the National University of Cinema and Television in Kyiv, before moving to Poland to pursue an MFA in Painting from the Cracow Academy of Fine Art. Upon her graduation in 2021, she received distinctions in the 45th Painting Biennale "Bielska Jesień" and 19th Hestia Artistic Journey Awards. Her works are currently on view at Muzeum Sztuki in Łódź as part of the exhibition "Citizens of the Cosmos: Anton Vidokle with Veronika Hapchenko and the Collection of the International Cosmist Institute". Embracing painting and object making, Hapchenko’s practice often traces legends and taboos surrounding revolutionary artists and political gurus to deconstruct and rethink the cultural tropes of the former USSR, which oscillated between esotericism and militarism.

Kanal - Centre Pompidou is pleased to announce shelter, a new work by Veronica Hapchenko commissioned by Kanal - Centre Pompidou for the VIII Congress of Women: The Feminist Ukraine. New Geopolitical sisterhood.

shelter is a large-scale painting by Veronika Hapchenko which commences her new series devoted to Soviet era avant-garde mosaics and murals in Ukraine. Once speaking of a bright, peaceful future, they are now being destroyed in the course of Russian invasion and bombardments. shelter is Hapchenko’s interpretation of the mosaic Windfighter (ukr. Boryviter, also known as Kestrel - a bird fighting wind). Created by monumental painter, dissident and human rights activist, Alla Horska (1929 - 70) for Mariupol’s restaurant Ukraina, it was destroyed by shelling in July 2022. Hapchenko's triptych features a dynamic group scene with two women and two birds flying towards their breasts. Their long hair strands and the birds' wings form a protective layer over other human figures. The muscular female bodies hint at the strength of those who fight, and those who flee Ukraine to protect their children.