For the first time, the War Museum hosted a special evening of Icelandic culture. The event brought together several elements: the opening of the exhibition “ARMORS” by the renowned Icelandic sculptor Steinunn Thorarinsdottir, a diplomatic reception attended by officials from Ukraine and Iceland, and a screening of the documentary “The Day Iceland Stood Still”.
Opening the programme, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iceland to Ukraine, Friðrik Jónsson, stressed, “In times of extraordinary challenges, it is important to remember and celebrate what ultimately makes us human: our history, our art, our struggle for a better future.”
The exhibition “ARMORS” was presented first, on the Museum grounds. Steinunn Thorarinsdottir spoke about the concept behind the project: at the centre of the composition are androgynous human figures placed alongside meticulously recreated medieval armour. To produce them, the artist used 3D scanning of historical armour from the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which made it possible to achieve a high degree of detail. The figures are open to touch and interaction, inviting viewers to become part of the “dialogue” between the pairs of sculptures.
“I cannot imagine a more fitting and symbolic place to present “ARMORS” than the one where we are now. In Iceland, we greatly admire the courage and resilience of Ukraine in these very difficult times, and we support all of you with our hearts,” the artist said.
Acting Director General of the War Museum Oleh Kucheriavyi expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Iceland, which led the preparation of this comprehensive cultural event, “We can safely say that, thanks to joint efforts, today we have the opportunity to see a part of Icelandic culture in Ukraine. We are very proud that it was our Museum that became the venue for such an international cultural project.”
The guests were then invited to a reception, during which Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis addressed those present. He drew attention to the centuries-old shared political and cultural space of Ukraine and Iceland, which goes back to the princely era.
The evening concluded with a screening of the documentary “The Day Iceland Stood Still,” which tells the story of a landmark moment in the fight for gender equality in Iceland: the nationwide women’s strike of 24 October 1975, in which 90% of Icelandic women took part.
The events held at the War Museum marked a special milestone in the history of cultural cooperation between Ukraine and Iceland. The War Museum invites you to visit the “ARMORS” exhibition and experience contemporary Icelandic art first-hand.
