NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY.- War is destructive to people and their cultural heritage. Living Through War: Works from Kharkiv by Bella Logachova is a reaction against the war in Ukraine. Each work gives unique insight into the perspective of an artist living through the violence and destruction of her homeland. With this exhibition, the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University strives to bring empathy and awareness to the war in Ukraine while supporting an artist and her country embroiled in conflict. Living Through War is generously sponsored by KeyBank in partnership with First Niagara Foundation.

Living Through War: Works from Kharkiv by Bella Logachova offers the incredibly rare opportunity to see through the eyes of a person in an active combat zone. The CAM exhibits nineteen of Bella Logachova’s artworks from the ARtNUO (New Ukrainian Ornaments) Series, produced from 2014 through 2022, along with a video of the artist. The exhibition is on view Thursday, July 28, 2022.

Combining imagery that is traditional to Ukrainian folk art along with military icons and symbols, Bella Logachova creates complex and narrative digital images. Through her intricate works, she describes various international events including the current conflict in Ukraine starting with the 2014 Revolution of Dignity: “Each work is a documentary story told by means of ornament. War time is difficult… but we need to do something, to create new things—it’s our responsibility.”

Bella Logachova is a Ukrainian artist and photographer, born in Mariupol in 1973. She graduated from the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Art, where she currently teaches Media Arts and is a co-founder of SOSka art group, including the Excess film group, in Kharkiv. She has exhibited her work throughout Europe and Ukraine.

Bella Logachova received wide recognition after the presentation of posters titled ARtNUO – New Ukrainian Ornaments at the IX International Triennale “4th Block” in 2015 for which she received the Grand Prix award of the festival. The 4th Block is an association of contemporary graphic designers. “In 2014, when the war in Ukraine started, I began the ARtNUO series…as the war only escalates, this series is still ongoing.”