War in Ukraine disrupted an exhibition by a foreign artist based in Malta
Plans by a foreign artist based in Malta became unstuck in recent weeks because of the situation in Ukraine… a country where the artist said people had put out the red carpet for him and were eager to learn. The war had started just three days before an exhibition of his works had to open in the museum of one of the major cities. The artist wishes he could do more from here and is appealing to people to take heed of the Ukrainians’ needs.
Luigi Rossi is a German national whose life is linked to art. He has been based in Malta for the past ten years. His studio is in Smart City, Kalkara. His works have been exhibited abroad, including in the US, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
It was during his first exhibition in Malta that Rossi met Alex, a Ukrainian national who, he said, had been of great support. Three years ago Alex introduced him to the Director of the Galagan Art Museum in Chernihiv, a city with a population of some 300,000 in northern Ukraine, and the director invited him to take part in an exhibition planned for the museum, with works by contemporary artists from around the world. Luigi planned “Round Midnight”, dedicated to a particular night in 1989 imprinted in the history of Leipzig, as it marked the end of the Communist regime in Germany.
Luigi’s links with this museum in Ukraine continued to grow. He was invited to hold a solo exhibition. Two years ago he spent a month and a half in Chernihiv to prepare the groundwork. Luigi said he had been very welcomed and had found people who genuinely appreciated art and wanted to learn. He admits this had a marked effect on him.
Everything had been ready and his works had arrived at the Galagan Art Museum. Three days before the opening of the exhibition, the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. The museum was hit by the Russian bombardment.
The war broke and everybody was shocked and I called the museum and the first day nobody answered. The second day, I got in touch with the director and these people were saving all the art works under the shellings. I kept daily contact with them. In this moment, as far as all the people I knew, all of them are safe out of two where nobody knows where they are at the moment. My art works are safe, most part of the collection is safe. Luigi Rossi – artist
Museum Director Yurli Tkatch thanked him for his support and interest and looks ahead to the day when, following a Ukrainian victory, he can welcome Maltese people to the museum and his country.
I want to thank him. He supports both our museum and Ukraine. I must say that Ukraine will never give up. So welcome to Chernihiv, welcome to Ukraine, welcome to Galagan Art Museum after the victory. Yuri Tkach – Director Galagan Art Museum
He refutes arguments of those who argue that this war is far away from our shores. He is of the opinion that in the face of what is happening, the Maltese should look at their history.
Look what war or evil brings, reason it and you will know what needs to be done. It’s not a question, go there, do something, send €2. No this is not what’s needed. In reality, what’s needed is to understand what’s going on. That’s the real thing that I would like to say to the Maltese. Yuri Tkach – Director Galagan Art Museum
Luigi admits that events in Ukraine in the past three months have affected him both personally and also in his work as an artist.
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