The PinchukArtCentre has opened a new exhibition titled "Still Joy — From Ukraine Into the World" as part of the official parallel program of the 61st Venice Biennale. The show, which opened on May 7 at Palazzo Contarini Polignac and runs through August 1, features works by over 20 international and Ukrainian artists exploring joy as an act of resilience and humanity. Central to the exhibition are testimonies from Hlib Stryzhko, a marine veteran who returned from Russian captivity, which are transformed into sculptural elements. Notable works include a protest performance by Yurii Hruzinov at the Russian pavilion, a video installation of Kyiv rave parties by Malashchuk and Khimei, and installations by Future Generation Art Prize laureates Ashfika Rahman and Zhanna Kadyrova.
This exhibition matters because it positions contemporary Ukrainian art within a major global art event, the Venice Biennale, using joy as a defiant response to war and trauma. By integrating personal testimonies from a war veteran and featuring artists from Ukraine and beyond, the show highlights how art can serve as a form of resistance, healing, and cultural diplomacy. The inclusion of politically charged works, such as Hruzinov's protest at the Russian pavilion, underscores the ongoing tensions and the role of art in documenting and confronting the realities of conflict, making it a significant statement in the current geopolitical landscape.