If Yanukovych wins, Ukraine will lose freedom of the arts

Dear TBT,

We decided to write this open message to you because we are very worried about what will happen to freedom of the arts in Ukraine, which we had during the period after the Orange Revolution in 2004, till today.
Our gallery (the Independent Art Gallery ANTIN’S COLLECTIONS, the founder of which is the well-known Ukrainian actor and show-man, Antin Muharsky) works with the artists who depict the real life in Ukraine, who have a strong social position and who make provocative art pieces. So, we present real independent and radical Ukrainian art. You can visit our Web site: www.antins.net.

We already have taken part in such famous Ukrainian Art Fairs as Kyiv Contemporary, Fine Art Ukraine in Ukrainian House (the curator of which is Petro Yushchenko, brother of Viktor Yushchenko) and Gogol Fest in Mystetsky (Art) Arsenal (the curator of which is Viktor Yushchenko himself). We even had the experience during these years when some of our artist’s works were forbidden by the censorship in Ukraine.

Now we are afraid that the new president could destroy these festivals of free art, or even, if not destroy, then not allow our gallery to take part.

So, we would like to ask you to be so kind please as to help us. Will you please write about this? That could be the real help, not only for our gallery and artists, but also for the whole democratically-minded people in Ukraine.

Sincerely, Serhiy Kolyada
Director, Kyiv, Ukraine