Ukraine House in Denmark Presents: “Uncurtained: Ukrainian Art in Danish Collections 1989-2023” Exhibition

In February 2023, the Danish Ministry of Culture allocated the former premises of the Danish Architectural Center at Gammel Dok in the center of Copenhagen to implement the strategy of Ukraine House in Denmark, showing Denmark’s unprecedented political and cultural support for Ukraine. For the past three years, Ukraine House in Denmark has become the center of Ukrainian culture in Denmark with a robust curated program of cultural platforms, dialogues and collaborations, including 10 exhibitions of Ukrainian contemporary art, architecture, design, and photography. The new exhibition of Ukraine House in Denmark offers context for Denmark’s current leadership in standing with Ukraine by demonstrating how Danish collectors, curators, and institutions have been quietly, but consistently, engaged with Ukraine’s cultural scene long before the Russian full-scale invasion.

“Our 11th exhibition, “Uncurtained: Ukrainian Art in Danish Collections 1989–2023”, is both tribute and revelation. It pays homage to the Danish curators, collectors, and institutions who believed in Ukrainian art long before the world fully grasped the stakes. And it uncovers a decades-long tapestry of cultural dialogue that has been forged before today’s political alliance. At Ukraine House, we believe cultural exchange is not a luxury—it is the strongest foundation of mutual security. Uncurtained suggests that Denmark’s investment in Ukraine began not only with weapons and policy, but also—quietly—with trust in Ukrainian creativity. In that sense, the Danish model may have had its origins in art. For Ukrainians, this exhibition offers a powerful act of self-recognition. It documents the emergence of Ukraine’s artistic voice in the years following independence and affirms the autonomy of our culture—so often overshadowed by louder imperial narratives. For Danish audiences, Uncurtained offers a rare chance to close a gap in collective awareness—to decolonize cultural perceptions and welcome Ukrainian art not as an “adjacent” curiosity, but as a vital and intrinsic part of Europe’s cultural fabric. This is not simply a story of solidarity; it is a recognition of shared heritage,” says Nataliia Popovych, Сhairperson of Ukraine House in Denmark.

Uncurtained refers both to the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, a moment that opened up new channels of cultural dialogue between Eastern and Western Europe, and to the unveiling of the artworks that had been inaccessible to the general public before. At the same time, it reflects how the West repeatedly "uncurtains" Ukraine at pivotal historical junctures—whether in the wake of the Soviet collapse, the Revolution of Dignity, or the ongoing full-scale invasion. 

“Through the lens of visual art, the exhibition reflects major geopolitical shifts in Europe, mapping the evolving place of Ukraine in the cultural and political landscape of the continent. It challenges outdated and biased narratives that used to position Moscow as the central influence on the development of Ukrainian art in the late 1980s and early 1990s, highlighting instead the historical significance of decentralized networks and the Western, particularly North European, axis of cultural exchange and collaboration,” notes exhibition curator Kateryna Stukalova. 

Uncurtained features works by some of the most important and internationally acclaimed Ukrainian artists such as Pavlo Makov. He represented Ukraine at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 and is a recipient of the main Ukrainian cultural award, Shevchenko National Prize. He also is a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers in the UK and has his works in the collections worldwide, such as National Gallery of Art, Washington, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Madrid, and many others. Since the early 1990s, he has maintained connections with Denmark—notably through collaborations with Fyns Grafiske Værksted in Odense, where he printed several important works; his early connections to Denmark helped shape his international career. Today, he remains based in Kharkiv, a city near the frontline that faces constant shelling and ongoing attacks. 

Also central to the exhibition is Sergei Sviatchenko, a Ukraine-born artist whose impact on Danish contemporary art has been profound. After moving from Ukraine to Viborg in 1990, he has become a leading figure in Denmark’s contemporary art scene. A pioneer of abstract collage and visual architecture, his work is housed in institutions and private collections across Denmark. In 2024, he co-created the sculpture Hope with artist Yehor Zigura for the KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad. 

We will also present a work of acclaimed designer Aleksej Iskos. Kharkiv-born and Copenhagen-based, he is known for his work with leading Danish brands like Muuto, Hay, and Normann Copenhagen. These names appear alongside artists like Valentyn Rayevskyi, Oleg Tistol, Maryna Skugareva, Yuliia Belyayeva, Mykyta Shalenny, Olena Subach, Sasha Maslov, Kinder Album, and others—presenting a rich, multi-generational dialogue in media ranging from painting and sculpture to photography, ceramics, and immersive VR installations.

Collections and Contributors:
The works in the exhibition are drawn from the holdings of collectors and institutions such as Design Museum, KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad, Odense Kommune, Fyns Grafiske Værksted, Jyske Bank, Henrik Nielsen, Jens and Masha Faurschou, Sergei Sviatchenko, Maria Rytter, Ulla Lundberg, Villy Petersen, Jesper Blædsild, and Helena Tomasson, among others.

Catalogue and Archival Materials:
A catalogue will accompany the exhibition, featuring comprehensive visual and archival materials gathered in both countries. Through this multifaceted presentation, Uncurtained will not only offer a visual journey through Ukraine’s artistic evolution, but also reaffirm the importance of cultural diplomacy, solidarity, and shared values in the pursuit of a peaceful and democratic Europe.

The “Uncurtained: Ukrainian Art in Danish Collections 1989–2023” exhibition is supported by Statens Kunstfond, Konsul George Jorck og Hustru Emma Jorck’s Fond, Politiken-Fonden, and Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen (Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces). 

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Exhibition “Uncurtained: Ukrainian Art in Danish Collections 1989–2023”
Dates: 21.08.2025–23.11.2025
Venue: Ukraine House in Denmark, Gammel Dok, Strandgade 27B, 1401 Copenhagen
Curator: Kateryna Stukalova

Consultants: Sergei Sviatchenko, Masha Faurschou

Opening Event:
Thursday, August 21, 2025

12:00 – Press conference 

13:00 – Press tour

13:45 – Refreshments and networking

16:00 – The grand opening with remarks by the curator Kateryna Stukalova, Ukraine House in Denmark Chairperson Nataliia Popovych, artists Pavlo Makov and Sergei Sviatchenko, and key collectors, followed by a guided tour of the exhibition

17:00 – Concert: Musical Dialogues Ukraine-Denmark (Vor Frelsers Kirke)

Opening Hours:
Tuesday–Saturday: 12:00–18:00
Sunday: 12:00–16:00
Monday: Closed