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The East and the West together: national unity relay exhibition of arts dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of Ukrainian Unity

On January 22, 2019, the exhibition The East and the West together: national unity relay was set up in the regional art which devoted to 100th Anniversary of Ukrainian Unity.

The subject of united and indivisible Ukrainian state has been important and actual many for many years because it was always an undesirable factor on the way of aggressive plans of Poland, Turkey, Muscovy, etc., who repeatedly turned Ukraine into the scene of battles for their geopolitical interests. For today, during a new Russian-Ukrainian war, we witness claims for our territory from Poland, Hungary, Romania. Even allegedly peaceful Belarus can be used by Moscovian "liberators" as the lodgment for attacking Ukraine from North. A threat is posed by certain regions of the country with their claim for "special status" as an award for high treason in 2014. Involuntarily it mentioned the historical fact when Burgundy betrayed France in favour of England during Hundred Years' War. And what to tell about powerful fifth column focusing on revenge and actual capitulation in front of "brotherly" Muskovy. Existing in such "peaceful" environment and a high level of betrayal cause us to appreciate the unity of all Ukrainian patriots in order not to repeat fatal flaws from 100 years ago which caused awful consequences for Ukrainian people.

Hence, the 100^th anniversary of Ukrainian Unity is a next occasion to make an instructive step back in history and to make obvious conclusion: Ukrainian mentality should not be an obstacle to Ukrainian statehood.

It is known that on January 22, 1919, the Unification Act of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed at Sofiyska Square in Kyiv. The act was ratified by the Labour Congress numbering 593 representatives from peasants, workers and the labour intellectuals as the Unity Universal. The unification process occurred when enemy forces advanced Ukraine from all sides.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this political step because it created favorable conditions for implementation of the primordial dream of all Ukrainians to establish their own state and live in it.

However, it’s sad to note, but even under the circumstances of a hostile environment, leaders of the Ukrainian liberation movement historically weren’t able to consolidate their efforts owing to putting their own interests prior national ones. of consolidation, time having put own ambitions above state interests. Unfortunately, Symon Petliura (the Ukrainian People's Republic) and Evhen Petrushevych (the West Ukrainian People's Republic) were no exception to the rule. Good intentions fell due to mutual hostility, desire to be the main and to share power with no one. Also, the leaders had different views on Ukrainian state future. So, in particular, Petrushevych believed that the Ukrainians was necessary to fight, first of all, against the Bolsheviks and to endeavor an independent Ukrainian state, but Petliura and his adherents were in favour of socialist Ukraine, without giving up hopes to reach a mutual understanding with the Russian Bolshevist government.

Despite the Unification Act, two governments and two armies, different social and economic policies, foreign policy orientations and so forth actually continued to exist.

As a result, the Universal of Unification became a declarative act which didn’t have real mechanism for its realization. Several months later it actually dropped and was denounced by Evhen Petrushevych at the end of 1919. The Directorate, being pushed out of Kyiv by the Red Army, lost control over the majority of Ukrainian territory at that time. Furthermore, the negotiations between Symon Petliura and Pi?sudski, which held in Warsaw, in spring 1920, were perceived by Galician as treason.

The main reasons for the failed attempt to establish the long-awaited Ukrainian United State, according to researchers, were the absence of constitutionalism school and European education among Dnieper Ukraine inhabitants and excessive care and conservatism of Galicians.

However, it isn’t necessary to consider events of that time only as a checkmate, because, given the Unity Act, the population of Ukraine whose territory was divided among different states, began to realize itself as a nation. Also, this document became the symbolical sign of aspiration to unity for many years, being guidance which pointed the Ukrainians the way they should move. Therefore, the day of January 22, 1919, can certainly be considered as a great date in the history of Ukraine.

And we are honoured to witness the development of Ukrainian independent united state, the process which began, according to many, in 2014. It is a pity, but the development costs Ukraine lives of its best sons and daughters, who have perished in military aggression from the immemorial enemy of Rus' -Ukraine – the Moscow Horde. And this war became, unfortunately, a daily phenomenon in particular. Such a situation is a consequence of preserving the Soviet mindset after receiving independence, severe economic crisis and powerful Russian propaganda. These factors resulted in Ukraine got split, in the sense of national consciousness, into the part focused on Europe and Soviet Little Russia; the boundary between them traditionally was the Dnieper. The frantic burst of Ukrainian patriotism and awakening of adamantine Cossack spirit displaced this border far to the east, having united on the wave of hate the enemy in hatred persons from Right- and Left-bank Ukraine and having given a meaning to the early abstract phrase “The East and the West together!”

Therefore, a purpose of the exposition developed at the regional art museum is  a reflection of the unity of central, southern, western, and east regions of our state which, despite certain differences in mentality, economic and cultural development, are an integral part of Ukraine. It is illustrated by the next artworks: Kyiv. Bohdan Khmelnytsky Square by Serhii Shyshko (1954), Yalta by Petro Pokarzhevskyi (1957), Valley near Rakhiv by Anatolii Horbenko (2006) and Scythian feather grass is above, while miners working bellow by Olena Pavlova (2012).

 

Oleh Yurchenko, Head of the Tourist, Local history and Information Work Division of the Kirovohrad Regional Art Museum