Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova's concrete origami deer sculpture, originally installed in Pokrovsk in 2018, has been evacuated from the war-torn Donetsk region and transported across Europe to become the centerpiece of Ukraine's national pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The sculpture, which replaced a Soviet fighter-bomber monument in a local park, was rescued in August 2024 by co-curator Leonid Marushchak amid intensifying Russian attacks, with the help of city authorities and museum staff.
This journey transforms the deer from a local peace symbol into an international emblem of Ukrainian cultural resilience during wartime. Its presence at the Venice Biennale—one of the world's most prestigious art events—highlights how art can survive and carry meaning even as its original context is destroyed by conflict. The story underscores the broader effort to preserve Ukraine's cultural heritage under threat of Russian aggression, and the role of international art platforms in amplifying these narratives.