Newcastle Cathedral is the second cathedral to host the poignant ‘Icons on Ammunition Boxes’, exhibition that raises funds to support medical units near the frontline in Ukraine.
Icons on Ammunition Boxes support medical units in Ukraine – Newcastle Cathedral
Icons painted on ammunition boxes is the project of Ukrainian artists Sofiia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko and was seen in Guildford Cathedral earlier this year. It is supported in the UK by the Rotary Clubs of Guildford Chantries and Kyiv-Capital and Ukrainian Charity Foundation ‘Peli can live’.
The icons are for sale, and all funds raised will support purchasing the vehicles for medical units near the frontline.
Yana Bobrova, board member of the Rotary Club Kyiv-Capital and executive director and co-founder of ‘Peli can live’ said the project had raised over £54,000 in the UK already.
“Thanks to the UK benefactors, the project has raised over £54,000 in the UK already, which has allowed us to buy the refrigerator vehicle to transport dead warriors with respect from the battlefields, the armoured vehicle to transport the wounded warriors and civilians to stabilization medical station, and an ambulance.”
This is the ninth time the exhibition has been displayed in the UK. Since its launch, it has been shown in 20 countries and the EU Parliament, sharing its unique message of war and peace, human suffering and hope with its underlying message that violence and pain can be transfigured into peace and relief.
“The artwork is stunningly beautiful,” says Secretary of Rotary Club Guildford Chantries, Mike Danson. “It carries a strong message of hope and defiance.”
Speaking to Reuters and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 2021, Klymenko said:
“Most people think of this war as something very far away. It was important for me to show people that the war is real, that this ammunition box is real, and it stored real weapons that killed real people.”
He told Reuters: “I don’t want this war to exist. And I don’t want this project to exist either.”
The artists, Sofiia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, both live and work in Kyiv and are graduates of the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture.
