I recently had the privilege of visiting the Royal Academy of Arts on a social day out with the better half. I had no idea what event or exhibition was taking place and stumbled upon In The Eye of The Storm: Modernism in Ukraine (1900’s - 1930’s).
I wouldn’t have typically signed up for for this exhibition on the assumption it wasn’t for me, but I’m so pleased that we did.
Here are my key takeaways:
* The language of art is universal - it may not use words but can be understood by anyone willing to take the time to perceive the message or story’s of triumph, loss, aspiration, fear and love amongst others.
* Preservation of culture is innate - people across the globe value their heritage, traditions, history and stories. In some cases, they will pay the highest price to protect it for the next generation.
* I will never grasp Cubism and that’s ok - these fancy terms and isms mean nothing to me and the same probably applies to most of us. We either like it and appreciate it or we don’t.
There were about 65 pieces on display but the canvas that resonated with me the most was dated 1929 by Viktor Palmov (1888 - 1929) entitled “1st of May”.
What events or exhibitions have you attended recently that surprised you?