(Central News Agency reporter Zeng Yixuan, Paris on the 3rd) Taiwanese artist Wu Xuansan and his daughter Wu Qina, who is also an artist, went to the country for the first time to exhibit their works under a plan to promote international exchanges with Ukraine. Through paintings and sculptures, they conveyed their care and support for freedom, truth and humanity.
The Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, held the 3rd UKRAFT International Artist Exhibition from September 3rd to 6th.
According to the museum's website information, UKRAFT has been committed to connecting artists since 2024 and regards art as a platform for dialogue, unity and cultural exchange. This year, it brought together artists from Taiwan, France, and Ukraine to participate in the exhibition.
Wu Xuansan and Wu Qina went to Lviv in person to participate in the exhibition. Since Ukrainian airspace was not open to civilian flights during the war, they first took a flight to Rzeszow, Poland, and then took a car to pass strict border inspections before arriving in Lviv.
Wu Xuansan exhibited the paintings "Summer Couple", "The Strong Man Speechless", and "South Island Beautiful Girl and Her Kitten".
In a telephone interview with a reporter from Central News Agency, Wu Xuansan pointed out that Taiwan and Ukraine are both liberal democracies. However, there is no truly safe place in the world, and living space is hard-won. When life is destroyed by external forces, liberal democracies must care for and help each other in order to gather strength to resist aggression. This kind of humanitarian concern is also one of the connotations of his creations.
He said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the exhibition today: "In recent years, we have become more and more aware of the preciousness of freedom and democracy. However, at the same time, these values are also being increasingly threatened. In the face of such threats, the people of Taiwan are deeply impressed by the courage and determination shown by the Ukrainian people."
Wu Xuansan also expressed his willingness to donate a work to the National Leviev Sheptitsky Museum.
Wu Qina exhibited the weathering steel sculpture "Eye of Healing and Truth". She said that this work is based on the "Eye of Horus", a symbol of healing in ancient Egypt. She also emphasized the truth, "Because in order for healing to truly begin, you must first look directly at the truth, that is, you must see the facts clearly. Many times the crisis is already in front of you, but most people are unwilling to face the facts and face them."
Wu Qina said that she came to Ukraine with a heavy heart this time because Taiwan and Ukraine are in similar situations and both have a "terrible neighbor". She hopes to express her support through this exhibition.
UKRAFT is the name of the cultural support program and exhibition for Ukraine conducted by the cultural events promotion organization La Vie en Relief.
Founder Stéphane Dalmat told the Central News Agency reporter that the original intention of founding UKRAFT was to lead French artists to personally go to the war-torn Ukraine, facilitate them to meet with Ukrainian artists, and prevent Ukrainian artists from falling into isolation because they are unable to go abroad.
This initiative received funding for artists from two French cities, Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier, and even moved UKRAFT to Clermont-Ferrand for exhibition.
Dalma said, "I originally thought (the exchange) was one-way, from France to Ukraine, but in fact Clermont-Ferhon asked me to bring back paintings and artists to exhibit locally." This year's third edition is more international, because Wu Xuansan and Wu Qina agreed to participate, surpassing his original idea of limiting it to French artists.
Dalma said that in addition to the exhibition works, the four artists from Paris will also communicate with four Ukrainian artists and explore Ukrainian culture, including visiting ancient wooden churches, medieval salt mines, and a rehabilitation center for war wounded, allowing the artists to gain new inspiration and inspiration from Ukrainian history and culture, which may be reflected in future works. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan)
