Ivankiv, Kyiv
Ukraine

Description of the Site

The Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum (Ukrainian: Іванківський історико-краєзнавчий музей) was a museum in the town of Ivankiv, located northwest of the capital city Kyiv, Ukraine, which was destroyed during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (UNESCO). The museum was famous for housing a number of prominent works by the acclaimed Ukrainian folk artist Maria Prymachenko. According to an article on theartnewspaper.com and hypebeast.com, 25 paintings by Maria Prymachenko, were destroyed. “Prymachenko, who was born in and is buried in Ivankiv, was a self-taught artist who grew up as a peasant… Featuring a graphic aesthetic, largely made using gouache and watercolor, Prymachenko created inviting pictorial compositions that drew on Ukrainian folklore and mythology.”

( https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/ivankiv-museum-of-local-history-ukraine-maria-prymachenko-russia)

“One of the country’s best known painters, Prymanchenko’s work … was notable for depicting fantastical beasts, many of which came to her in dreams. Several of her works have been featured on Ukraine’s postage stamps and, in 1966, she was awarded Ukraine’s highest cultural honour, the Shevchenko National Prize. To recognize her contributions to the field of folk art, Unesco declared 2009 the year of Maria Prymachenko. The largest holdings of Prymachenko’s work, around 650 pieces, are in Ukraine’s National Museum of Applied Folk Art in Kyiv.”
(https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/02/28/ukraine-museum-burns-down-in-russian-invasion-destroying-25-works-by-folk-artist-maria-prymachenko)

The Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum opened on 21 February 1981 and was located on an archaeological site dating back to the Middle Ages. The museum included several exhibitions on Chernobyl, Afghanistan and the Second World War.[2] From 2016 to 2018, the museum was re-developed to accommodate expansions made to the collection since its foundation.[3] In 2021, the museum hosted an exhibition on Ivankiv’s Jewish heritage.[4]

The Threat

Russia’s invading forces and the ongoing conflict.

Efforts to Save Ivankiv Historical and Local History Museum

UNESCO’s emergency measures: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/endangered-heritage-ukraine-unesco-reinforces-protective-measures

Who Should Be Held Accountable

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Museum of Local History in Ivankiv had been set on fire by Russian forces.

Quotes

In a statement posted on Facebook, Vlada Litovchenko, director of the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve, called the events an “irreparable loss” — directly violating the “basic principles of UNESCO” under which the museum should have been protected.

The museum’s destruction has been described as “irreparable” by Vlada Liovchenko, director of the Vyshhorod History and Culture Reserve in nearby Toompea.

Source Links

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/damaged-cultural-sites-ukraine-verified-unesco?hub=66116

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/02/28/ukraine-museum-burns-down-in-russian-invasion-destroying-25-works-by-folk-artist-maria-prymachenko

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivankiv_Historical_and_Local_History_Museum

https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/ivankiv-museum-of-local-history-ukraine-maria-prymachenko-russia

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/endangered-heritage-ukraine-unesco-reinforces-protective-measures

Gallery