The Heart of Ukraine is a unique, interactive light installation created by artists Mykola Kabluka, founder and art director of the company Expolight, and Valerii Kuznietsov.
This installation was created for Paris Design Week and later showcased at the Ukraine WOW exhibition in 2019. In February 2025, the piece was displayed at the Southern Railway Station in Kyiv. Initially, it broadcast declarations of love—to a dear person, a city, or Ukraine itself. Later, by the third anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Heart of Ukraine transformed into a martyrology, commemorating those who lost their lives in the war. Everyone had the opportunity to immortalize the name of a loved one taken by the brutal conflict. The art object then traveled across Ukraine and has now returned to the heart of the capital.
The creators explain, "This installation visualizes our collective spirit of unity and resilience. The sculpture’s shape symbolizes Ukraine’s living heart, which embodies a symphony of our pulses. The core idea of this art project is to inspire a conscious choice—to follow ’the path of the heart,’ to do what you love, cherishing true values over superficial motives."
As you approach the sculpture, it responds with a pulsation that synchronizes with the viewer’s heartbeat. It serves as a powerful reminder of our nation’s strength when we are united by a common purpose and a heartfelt desire to develop our country, filling it with light and love.
We invite everyone to see this one-of-a-kind art object at the War Museum starting April 3.
