On the 20th of July at 7PM we’re opening Anton Hudo’s exhibition “The poet during the siege” in TYPA Gallery. Anton Hudo is an Ukrainian illustrator and street artist, who was an artist in residency at TYPA from May to July in 2023.
“The poet is not afraid of death by the enemy, because a free song cannot die…” – Lesya Ukrainka
These are lines from a poem by Lesya Ukrainka, a writer very similar to Lydia Koidula. Similar fate. Similar poetry. Even though they never knew each other. On our first day in Estonia, just as we were on our way to TYPA to meet everybody, we noticed a memorial plaque dedicated to Lesya Ukrainka on Kastani street. It immediately gave me a sense of recognition.
I work with emotions. Strong emotions are very important to me, as some experienced in childhood even stretch into my adulthood. In my exhibition I present some of my graphic work, since for every Ukrainian the world has been divided into black and white, good and evil. Following my paintings, you can see an exponential evolution of colours throughout the exhibition.
My artwork is a documentation of stories, delving deeper into the topic of defense and unity. About how we, as a whole world, have become defensive; about the role of the Baltic countries and Estonia in particular – its perception and reflection, its empathy. The project is certainly about ordinary people and about me: the people who were forced to leave their homes. Also about those who opened up to help.
But most of all, it’s about poetry: you can kill the poet, but you can not silence them. Their words will continue to live on in the mouths of others, carrying their message even after they are gone.
Exhibition is opened from 20.07.2023 – 03.09.2023 in TYPA Gallery.
TYPA gallery is open Wed-Sun 12PM – 6PM.
Visiting the exhibition is free.
The exhibition is funded by Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture.
