Chickhan, David: “Anti‐authoritarians and anti‐authoritarian leftists in the army of Ukraine” (2023)

watercolor on paper
Long-term loan from the Peter und Irene Ludwig Stiftung, Aachen, 2023

Chychkan uses diverse artistic media, such as watercolour graphics, installation, street art, and performance. His activism is integral to the development of his artistic practice, which he sees primarily as an instrument of the transformation of society. In his new paintings, he depicts members of the anti-authoritarian army – civilians, women, artists - taking part in Ukraine's war of defence, and also historical figures, related to The history of Ukraine and the left wing movements. Visually, Chychkan’s works combine the language of a classic political poster with a meticulous and respectful attitude to the intellectual, artistic and cultural heritage of Ukraine. Along with the recognisable Ukrainian national colours — yellow and blue — the artist has added three more colours charged with symbolic connotation. Thus, black corresponds to the idea of anti-authoritarianism and decentralism; purple represents feminism and cultural progress; red refers to social equality and direct democracy. This new national iconography proposed by Chychkan not only refers to the Ukrainian struggle for liberation in the past, but also suggests a possible direction for the development of Ukrainian society as an unfulfilled modernist project, based on combining such ideas.