NEW YORK, NY.- The War of the Mushrooms is a group of ten original illustrations by Ukrainian artist Nikita Kravtsov on view at The Ukrainian Museum. Drawing inspiration from the eponymous folk tale, a popular classic in Slavic cultures and the subject of a 1909 publication of the tale featuring illustrations by the prominent Ukrainian graphic artist, Heorhii Narbut, Kravtsov's contemporary interpretation reimagines the tale with paintings of scenes from Russia's current war on Ukraine. Mr. Kravtsov will be in New York City for the exhibition opening event on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at The Ukrainian Museum.

Mushroom soldiers shoot mushroom missiles at projectiles fired from Russia onto Ukrainian soil, cities, and innocent civilians. The creative pictures drawn by Kravtsov in pencil and painted in vivid colors should not be misunderstood as simple cartoons and illustrations one finds in comic books. The subject matter is serious and representative of the massive assault by Russia on Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. Kravtsov reacts to the unwarranted war and the destruction levied on his homeland in his own inimitable style.

Nikita Kravtsov is a Ukrainian artist born in Crimea. He graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv (formerly Ukrainian State Academy of Arts), the institution in which Heorhii Narbut (1886–1920) held a key role as one of its early rectors, and was instrumental in its early development as an art institution. Nikita currently lives and works in Paris but he has not lost touch with his native Ukraine. In his artistic practice, Kravtsov focuses primarily on graphics, but lately he has been experimenting with textiles together with his wife Camille Sanye-Kravtsova. He often participates in exhibitions and works as an illustrator.

Kravtsov's illustrations are also featured in the book The War of the Mushrooms (Rodovid Press, 2022, Kyiv), as an homage to Narbut. They are different from the current exhibition in that Kravtsov sees the new paintings as a continuation of the story as the war unfolds. The cover design is reminiscent of the 1909 cover design by Heorhii Narbut and repeats elements of his other designs, but both the story and illustrations have a completely different context. Andrey Kurkov, author of the new text for The War of the Mushrooms book, changed the English-language fairy tale to make it relevant with respect to the dramatic developments in Ukraine. The popular folk tale in which the king of the mushrooms calls his vassals (other mushrooms) to war is supplanted by an allegorical story about the tensions between Ukraine and its belligerent neighbor, Russia. The book, which was in the process of going to print just before the war started, turned out to be a premonition of the military aggression Russia initiated against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Because of the outbreak of the war, it was printed in the U.S. and is now on sale in the Museum shop and online.

Organized tours of The War of the Mushrooms are encouraged. Individual visitors may enjoy the exhibition anytime during gallery hours, but groups must make advance reservations due to limited capacity.