In southern Ukraine, initiatives are being implemented to preserve the cultural heritage of temporarily occupied and frontline territories. Activists evacuate archives, create traveling exhibitions, and digitize exhibits.
This was reported in a segment by journalists from Toronto Television.
In Nova Kakhovka, before the full-scale invasion, the so-called “stone vyshyvankas” — decorative ornaments on building facades — were studied and restored. Activists for more than three years sought to have the city designated as an urban-planning monument because of its unique layout and architecture.
The decorative portals were created by artist Hryhoriy Dovzhenko, a representative of the Boychukist school. In the 1950s he worked on the artistic design of the city, which was built together with the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. The ornaments reflected the purpose of the buildings — the facades depicted elements related to their function.
After the city’s occupation, the project was turned into a traveling exhibition. The exhibition was shown in several cities across Ukraine and abroad.
According to the head of the Nova Kakhovka Society for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Tetiana Yevtseyeva: “More than 50 houses with ornaments are currently damaged.”
A similar format was chosen by the creators of the museum “Mysteries of Dzharylhach Island.” Before the full-scale war, the exhibits were digitized and prepared for 3D printing. Visitors were offered an offline exhibition with a virtual tour of the island in VR goggles. Currently the project operates only online.
