Many artists turn to art as a way of easing their suffering. On Friday 23rd, the Ukrainian Cultural Space Association opened a collective exhibition of more than 60 works dedicated to the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Entitled 'War Generation', the exhibition is described by the organisation as "a reflection of the experience of a generation whose lives were forever divided into a before and after". "The exhibition relates to the four years of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It is the third exhibition we have organised since our association began in 2014, although this venue was only inaugurated last November. The exhibition features more than 60 replicas of paintings", explained the president of the collective, Halyna Lisnycha.

"We selected works from all generations, children and adults alike, who have lived under these terrible conditions of war for years. This is the only project in the world that selects and studies the mental and emotional state of all generations during this prolonged modern war", said the project organiser, Tetiana Kolesnichenko.

Art therapy

The images are created by artists of all ages, explained Lisnycha: "They represent reators ranging from children aged three to adults over 70". Through these works, the artists seek to honour the memory of the deceased, support those still living and remind the international community of the price Ukraine is paying for its freedom.

Ukrainians living in the area expressed their gratitude to the people of Mijas for their support. "On behalf of all Ukrainians living here, we sincerely thank the people of Mijas for their understanding and support", said the president of the association, whose aim is, she explained, to bring Ukrainian culture and art closer to the whole world. "That is why our association is called 'Espacio Cultural' (Cultural Space).

Ukrainian culture

During the opening ceremony on Friday 23rd, the association offered typical Ukrainian food, songs and moments of remembrance for all those affected by the war. The exhibition is open to anyone wishing to learn more about the experiences of Ukrainians living through this tragic reality.

'War Generation'

A panel at the exhibition explains that it presents a selection of works from the art marathon, 'War Generation', which gathers art born of war and features participation from artists of all generations in Ukraine. The art marathon also serves as a form of art therapy, collecting artistic testimonies of the war and presenting them to the world, calling for support for Ukraine.

The participants’ works offer insight into the nature, culture, authenticity, and contemporary art of Ukraine. Through the creativity of Ukrainians, the world witnesses one of humanity’s most valuable qualities: transforming horror and pain into beauty.

Among the works in the art marathon are creations by military personnel and their children, deeply affected by the war; by young and adult citizens of Ukraine who have lived under bombardment for four years; by internally displaced persons; and by Ukrainians forced to leave their homeland. Each participant, from their own place, fights every day for victory over the invader and for peace in Ukraine.

The art marathon is part of the large-scale International Art Festival МАЛЮЙ-UA.WAR, the only cultural initiative in Ukraine that has continued uninterrupted since the first week of the full-scale invasion. It is a unique project, analysing through art how the consciousness of different generations changes during a prolonged modern war.

Since the invasion began, 67 exhibitions featuring works by МАЛЮЙ.UA. WAR participants have been held in 18 countries, inlcuding Ukraine, the United States, Switzerland, Montenegro, Albania, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, China, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Poland, Pakistan, Greece and Argentina. This is the second exhibition in Spain; the first was held in Barcelona in September 2025.

The project is organised by the Association for the Development of International Relations (ADRUM) and the promotion and production company STUDIORAR, with the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kyiv City Council.

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