Ukraine House Presents Unique Naïve Art of Polina Raiko at Copenhagen Light Festival 2025

Polina Raiko’s house in Oleshky, Ukraine, stood as a vibrant testament to her unique vision. Starting to paint at the age of 69, Raiko transformed her home into a stunning gallery of naïve art, drawing from local folklore, religion, and her personal experiences. Tragically, her home was severely damaged on June 6, 2023 in a flood caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by Russian occupiers. 

"Nearly three years after the UN demanded that Russia end its illegal invasion and withdraw its troops from Ukraine, the suffering of Ukrainians persists. This war forces us to confront the unthinkable: the Russian occupying forces committing acts of genocide, ecocide, culturecide, and countless war crimes and crimes against humanity. Premiering at the Copenhagen Light Festival, Ukraine House presents The House of Light: A Tribute to Polina Raiko to remind audiences of the fragility of international law and the urgent need for stronger coalitions to counter the rising tide of neo-imperial forces. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by Russian occupiers—yet another act of culturcide against Ukrainian heritage—underscores the importance of preserving Raiko’s artistic legacy, giving her work a renewed voice and a platform on the international stage," highlighted Nataliia Popovych, chairperson of Ukraine House in Denmark.

A Virtual Revival of Polina Raiko’s Masterpiece

For the duration of the Copenhagen Light Festival, Ukraine House’s iconic balcony - a rectangular prism with a sloping roof extending over the waters of Copenhagen Harbour - will be transformed into a mesmerizing video installation. Visitors by the harbour will experience a virtual recreation of Polina Raiko’s house, brought to life with vivid colors and symbolic imagery that echo the beauty of her hand-painted walls. 

Exhibition Honoring Raiko’s Legacy

In addition to the light installation, an exhibition inside Ukraine House will offer an intimate exploration of Raiko’s life and work. It will feature photographs of her paintings, archival materials, written accounts, documentaries about the house and its destruction, and an immersive VR-tour. 

The opening: January 31, 19:00

Dates: January 31 – February 28, 2025

Light Installation: Daily from 17:00 to 21:00

Exhibition: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 to 18:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Location: Ukraine House in Denmark, Strandgade 27B, 1401 Copenhagen

Organizers: Ukraine House in Denmark, a cultural diplomacy institution committed to fostering Ukrainian-Danish cooperation in the arts and creative industries, promoting sustainable peace in Europe, and Kastanje, a Dutch-Ukrainian Cultural Center dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture under threat and fostering cultural exchange through art exhibitions, performances, and educational events.

Photographs and video installation by Kostyantyn Rudeshko, Ukrainian artist and exhibition designer

Curator of the exhibition: Marianna Dzhulay, Kastanje

Curator of the video installation: Kateryna Stukalova, Ukraine House in Denmark

The project is supported by: Politiken-Fonden, Open Society Foundations, and Danish Arts Foundation.

The Ukraine House’s annual program of 2025 is supported by the Ministry of Culture of Denmark and the Danish Arts Foundation.

For press inquiries, please contact press@ukrainehouse.dk