Ukraine, Banksy and the power of art in the rubble of Borodyanka

A little girl balances in the rubble of a tall building a Borodyanka, one of the cities most affected at the beginning of the Russian invasion, in the Kiev region. Thus, among the gray buildings destroyed by bombs, where the outlines are defined only by the black shadow of the smoke left on the building, a work byBritish artist Banksy. It was he himself who published it shortly afterwards on his Instagram profile, writing simply «Borodyanka, Ukraine».

Many comments appeared shortly after the image, many also written by Ukrainian citizens to thank the artist who with his work remembers that “the war is not over and there are many boys and girls who fight for theirs every day. freedom. Art can heal and push society to meaningful action. Art is power“. And again: «Here in Ukraine we have difficulties with electricity after the Russian bombs, but not with willpower».

The acrobat girl in the rubble wouldn’t be Banksy’s only work to appear in Ukraine these days. Another mural photographed by Ed Ram and attributed to the English artist who in this case has not given any confirmation, however, represents a child who knocks out an adult man during a judo match that could be traced back to Russian President Vladimir Putin, passionate about this sport and expelled from the World Judo Federation of which he was honorary president and ambassador, last February, after the start of the conflict. Not far away, another graffiti shows two children playing on a “friesian horse”, a defensive obstacle appeared on many Ukrainian roads, particularly in Kiev, since the invasion began.

There is also another gymnast poised on the rubble of a Borodyanka palace, represented while on tiptoe she performs with the ribbon. A mural entirely attributable to Banksy’s style that she has not officially shared at the moment. What is certain is that the artist arrived in Ukraine after many had been wondering for some time when his first work would appear in the country. The last time Banksy exposed himself for Ukraine was in March, when he auctioned off his works to finance the largest children’s hospital in Kiev, Ohmatdyt children’s hospital, which cares for seriously ill children. and anyone who was injured in the war that began with the Russian invasion.

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