Icons painted on boxes of ammunition used during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine were displayed at an exhibition hosted by the National Museum of History of Moldova. The collection not only brings to the public the beauty of sacred art, but also sends a strong message of resistance and hope to everyone, Livia Ermurachi, deputy director of the National Museum of History of Moldova, stated in the exhibition opening. The event was dedicated to the two-year anniversary of the outbreak of the Russian aggression, IPN reports.
Icons made by Ukrainian artists Olexander Klymenko and Sonia Atlantova were exhibited in 19 countries. “The collection presented in Chisinau contains 25 unique icons painted on ammunition boxes used during Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine, which traveled through the world, transmitting their story and symbolism to the whole world. We are privileged to have them exhibited at the National Museum of History of Moldova during three week,” stated Livia Ermurachi, noting that the exhibition project combines two aspects that at first glance seem impossible to be treated unitarily: the icon and the ammunition box, life and death.
One of the authors of the exhibition, Sonia Atlantova, noted that the idea of creating such works appeared in 2014, when it became clear that a war was ongoing and there were such ammunition boxes. “We asked our acquaintances and friends among soldiers, journalists, volunteers to bring crates. And a lot of people supported this idea,” stated Sonia Atlantova. The author added that the project is being continuously updated and the icons exhibited at the National Museum of History were made recently.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Moldova Marko Shevchenko said that this exhibition conveys a strong message. The icons signify eternal life, prayer and peace, while ammunition boxes symbolize death. During a war, the distance between death and life is very small and the Ukrainians remain to live at this short distance in his country, having no choice but to resist and fight. “With empty or full ammunition boxes, we must resist because we will not have another chance to live in our country,” noted the diplomat.
Poland’s Ambassador to Moldova Tomasz Kobzdej stated that these ammunition boxes have double symbolism. First, they are covered with beautiful icons. Secondly, the ammunition boxes shout at us: “if we don’t want to live in a stable world, in a democratic country, the boxes will be replaced by ammunition.”
“I admit that I never imagined that the icon – this sacred object to which we pray for peace and health – can be painted on ammunition boxes that bring death. But this is the harsh reality in which we live, when life and death became a daily constant in the neighboring country. In this reality, any effort to bring peace closer is salutary and we can add here the works of the two plastic artists who, by painting icons on ammunition boxes used in war, transform death into life,” said Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan. The official noted that it is not just an original artistic approach as the proceeds from the sale of icons are used to help those who are on the battlefield or to treat the wounded.
The exhibition is open to the general public until March 10.
