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Еxposition “Ordered – to die” dedicated to 80th anniversary of the Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine.

On 21 November 2013 in Kirovohrad Regional Art museum was opened the exposition “Ordered – to die”, which is dedicated to 80th anniversary of terrible tragedy and horrible crime of Stalin's regime – Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine.

This tragedy – it seems to be the most terrible event in the history of our nation, which seems more terrible because of this man-made organization with the purpose of taming of

hard-bitten and elimination in their conscious forever the very dream independent Ukraine and free labor  at their land. Because such dreams contradict nature of totalitarian system with it's concept that   human is like “small screw”. On the opinion of the experts, Holodomor 1932-1933 made for Ukrainian society catastrophic and irreversible disastrous consequences virtually in all spheres of life – economoc, social, and what the worst – spiritual. Not only traditional economic relation were broken, but primordial nationa traditions, customs, values.

It is necessaru to note, that physical liquidation of  ukrainian peasantry under the slogan “Dekulakization” was of criminal politic of Bolshevist authority's logic continuation of physical liquidation of whole social class of former Russian empire actuall y in Ukraine, in particular. They didn't fit with new structure of Soviet plebeian society in particular, because of the level of their intellegence and culture ranked above so called “hegemons” and did'nt fit with role of “builder of communism”. That's why there were liquidated noblemen, merchants, priests, old intelligentsia,  that ultimately caused the decrease of both general intellegence and general cultural level of population that was clear, it works in of that time authority favour.

Later it was turn of peasants, who instead of getting of promised land were sentenced, they were called “Kulaks” and they were declared uncompromising war. However, it was order to die, which are not subject to appeal, which eloquently witnesses, in paticular, severe punishments of those, who tried to escape man-made hell. So, for eample, on the border of Ukraine with relatively successful Belorussia were detachments of militia and cought them, with all appropriate consequences, those who tried to get through there with the purpose change things for some food.

The subject of Holodomor 1932 – 1933 is still “apple of discord” even in very Ukraine. Many people, brought up on Soviet myths, don't admit on principle the fact of famine, moreover – Holodomor, as one of the form of elimination of whole nation. It has been consequence of total and long-standing zombieing of Soviet people, strict “taboo” as for subject of Holdomor and severe repression against those, who even word said about events of 1932-1933. They were waited for execution by firing squad, camps, later – home for the insane. Still even among the historians

there is no unanimous opinion as for both recognition of Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine as genocide of ukrainian nation, and general number of dead because of that tragedy. The range as for the last it varies in different historical sources from 3,5 millions to 10 millions people.

Anyway, debating about separate facts and figures, we can't deny the fact martyr's death of millions people. To remember of them – it is our orthodox duty. That's why the main purpose of the exposition “Ordered – to die” just consist in returning to people the memory about Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine at the base of objective, unbiased information and means of fine arts, compell to think over the reasons, which caused such terrible tragedy, vividly illustrate antinational nature of Bolshevist regime, which had impudence to be called “nation authority”, and again, dissipate the myth about “failure of crops”, as the main reason of hunger.

The part of exposition consist of informationals resources report chronology and pecularity of the war of Soviet regime against rural workers, and rise the theme of paying tribute to innocent victims, both at the territory of Ukraine , and outside of it. In particular we could see,  as it was celebrated  yet in Soviet times of following anniversary of Great Hunger by representatives of ukrainian expat community in Canada.The interesting exhibits of the exhibition is memorable coins in face value 5 hrivnas from the series “Holodomor- genocide of ukrainian nation” (2008), made for 75th anniversary of Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine.

It is truthful, that's why it is more terrible illustration of that time events we can consider the pictures of professional Kirovohrad artists, who demonstrated in such a way their social activism, patriotic feelings and not indifferent attitude to the hitroy of your nation, in particular- their tragic pages. Among such works there are – by M.H.Bondarenko “The winter of 1933th (1993) and F.M.Polonskyi “Impasse” (2008). Talanted hand of the master, comparitavely in small size canvases,which could to convey the full scale of tragedy and grief of people, the atmosphere of terror, pain, suffering- and what is the worst- impasse of people, who doomed to martyr's death.

The logic part of exposition also became the works of Kirovohrad masters, which dedicated to the theme of sorrow. The pictures of V.K.Volkhov “Holodomor Remembrance”(1995),

A.M. Nadiezhdina “Black comutus” (2006). They as if call all who are not indifferent to bow in commemorative prayers for martyr, the only “offence” they commit was indisposition to be “small screw”of Soviet system and nature necessity to work on their own land, being owner of it. Hwo knows,  who needs this prayer today?They or we?

 

Oleh Yurchenko- senior research fellow of

Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum.