PinchukArtCentre and National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Centre present programme “Transition syndrome: Ukrainian cinema of the 1990s”

From July 22 until end of September 2015, the PinchukArtCentre and National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Centre invite to programme “Transition syndrome: Ukrainian cinema of the 1990s”, a series of discussions along with the 1980-1990 Ukrainian movies screening presented within the exhibition “Borderline. Ukrainian Art 1985-2004”. All events will be hosted at the PinchukArtCentre and National Oleksandr Dovzhenko Centre. Admission is free.

“Transition syndrome” is about Ukrainian movies of 1980-90s which were made during a contradictory and crucial time for the society, traditionally referred to as a transition period. Dominant ideologies, political situation, ethical positions and aesthetic preferences, and finally the identity happened to be on the borderline. These films explode social taboos, ridicule Soviet realities, restore nationalist ideas and produce new idols of the mass culture.

The programme is primarily focused on the symbolic wrapper of the past that is always in the picture of the present. “Transition syndrome”, on the one hand, visually and historically relates to the artworks of the exhibition “Borderline”, while on the other – to the “borderline” of actual social change, with new post-Maidan substitution of the communist and post-communist symbols for new equivalents.

“Borderline. Ukrainian Art 1985–2004” is a large scale group show of Ukrainian artists exploring development of the Ukrainian contemporary art from early 1980s till 2004 when the Orange Revolution had happened in the country. The exhibition investigates driving forces of socially and politically engaged art starting from “pre-perestroika” time. It presents more than 40 major group works by prominent Ukrainian artists and art groups whose practice has been defined during and shortly after the collapse of the USSR.

On Wednesday, July 22, at 19:30, the PinchukArtCentre presents lecture “Cossack Syndrome and New National Utopia” by Stanislav Menzelevskyi, culture researcher, translator, senior research worker at the Oleksander Dovzhenko National Center, editor of independent online project MEDUZA.

The lecture will be followed by screening of film “Hunt for the Cossack’s gold” (director Vadim Kastelli, 1993, 89 min), one of the few truly funny Ukrainian comedies that in an easy and relaxed manner deals with the critical problems arising in the process of finding the new Ukrainian identity after 1991.

Due to the limited availability of seats early registration is recommended. Please call +380 44 590 08 58. Event participants have a priority access to the art centre.

Information for Press and Media:

All media accreditation requests must be e-mailed to

[email protected] 

“Transition syndrome: Ukrainian cinema of the 1990s” programme:

July 22

• 19:30 – lecture “Cossack Syndrome and New National Utopia” by Stanislav Menzelevskyi, culture researcher, translator, senior research worker at the Oleksander Dovzhenko National Center, editor of independent online project MEDUZA.
• 20:30 – screening of film “Hunt for the Cossack’s Gold”, director Vadim Kastelli, 1993, 89 min.

July 29

• 19:30 – lecture «Representation of Chernobyl in the Soviet and Ukrainian Films: Transformation of the Visual Rhetoric and Political Importance» by Stanislav Menzelevskyi, culture researcher, translator, senior research worker at the Oleksander Dovzhenko National Center, editor of independent online project MEDUZA.
• 20:30 – screening of film “Decay”, director Mikhail Belikov, 1989, 103 min.

July 5

• 19:30 – lecture “Remembering History: ‘Hunger-33’ and National Cinema” by Olga Papash, culture expert, movie scholar, journalist, translator.
• 20:30 – screening of film “Hunger-33”, director Oles Yanchuk, 1991, 115 min.

July 12

• 19:30 – lecture*  
• 20:30 – screening of film “The Seventh Route”, director Mykhailo Illienko, 1996, 79 min.

July 19

• 19:30 – lecture* 
• 20:30 – Screening of film “First Floor”, director Igor Minaev, 1990, 66 min.

July 26

• 19:30 – lecture*
• 20:30 – screening of film “Swan Lake “The Zone”, director Yuriy Illienko, 1989, 97 min.

August 2

• 19:30 – lecture*
• 20:30 – screening of film “The Asthenic Syndrome”, director Kira Muratova, 1989, 135 min.

August 23

• 19:30 – lecture*
• 20:30 – screening of film “Woodcock”, director Oleksandr Muratov, 1996, 82 min.

August 30

• 19:30 – lecture*
• 20:30 – screening of film “In that part of sky…”, director Igor Chernitsky, 1992, 115 min.

*Topics of lectures and names of lecturers will be announced additionally.

There might be minor changes in the programme. Please follow the programme at pinchukartcentre.org