On February 24, 2022, the day of the invasion, Google locations of Ukrainian museums are switched off, and Ukrainian art goes underground. With the enemy threatening cultural centres in cities like Kharkiv and Kyiv, an army of volunteers rises to protect Ukraine’s artistic heritage from annihilation.
Saving Ukrainian Art Under Fire
The fight to preserve Ukraine’s artistic legacy takes on new urgency. If Ukrainians do not save their culture from destruction, the country will not survive.
Lacking official guidance, a courageous network of volunteers emerges. Armed only with determination, they embark on daring missions to safeguard art from public and private collections, risking their lives to preserve Ukraine's cultural identity.
Thousands of works are lost, damaged or looted by the invading army.
Through powerful stories, gripping re-enactments, and an exploration of Ukraine’s contemporary art scene, the film reveals that art is more than a passive witness to history. Art is a force for a nation’s survival.
“War on Art” is a story of resilience in the face of destruction, where the struggle to save art is a battle to save a nation.
Film Information
Title: War On Art
Format: Feature documentary (90 min)
Language: English
Premiere: Spring 2025
& Kateryna Zavoloka
(Ketvirta Versija, Lithuania)
(Gage Pictures)
(Film Boom Productions LTD, UK)
Look & Style
Captured moments from War on Art
