To mark Europe Day, the War Museum has unveiled the exhibition "Memory. Interchange", created in collaboration with the Museum Berlin-Karlshorst and supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine.
At the heart of the project are the family stories of three artists: Polina Kuznetsova from Ukraine, Eva Neidlinger, and Jenny Alten from Germany. The lives of their ancestors intersected in Ukraine, which was occupied by the German National Socialists.
During the opening, War Museum Director General Yurii Savchuk emphasized how important it is for Ukraine to adopt a European culture of remembrance, as it creates a space for joint development among European nations.
Lisa Heike, Head of the Cultural Department of the German Embassy, stated:
"It is an honor for the German Embassy to support this project here in Ukraine – a country now on the frontlines, defending Europe against tyranny. Memory is not a passive act. It is an act of resistance, including against the revival of old imperial narratives".
According to curators Maryna Bohush and Yurii Horpynych, modern technologies made it possible to create a highly personal and emotionally resonant exhibition. There is no judgment here – only an objective presentation of the tragedy Ukraine endured under Nazi occupation.
The works of Ukrainian artist Polina Kuznetsova reflect on stories from her grandmother, who lived through the occupation as a child. The German artists draw parallels between the Second World War and the current war. Eva Neidlinger noted that in the very regions of Ukraine where her ancestors served in the occupying army, today’s Ukrainians are once again forced to resist invaders. She dedicated her part of the exhibition to her friends defending Ukraine from russian aggression.
The project explores family and national historical memory themes, overcoming the traumatic legacy of the past, and building cultural dialogue between nations. Ukraine and Germany have discovered shared values for rethinking the experience of World War II. This joint exhibition stands as a milestone in Ukrainian-German cultural diplomacy.
The exhibition is open to the public at the Main Building of the War Museum.
