Icons on weapons Boxes just opened in Ely Cathedral

Icons painted on ammunition boxes taken from the frontline in the Ukraine, has just gone on display at Ely Cathedral.

Art from the frontline: icons on weapon boxes opens in Ely

Since its launch, this extraordinary exhibition, Icons on Ammo Boxes, has been shown in over 20 countries, as well as being on display in the EU Parliament and at the 2023 NATO Summit.

The artists paint the icons on the lids, bottoms, and other fragments of wooden boxes that used to store various types of ammunition and weaponry. The boards are brought from the combat zone by PFVMH (Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital) volunteers as well as servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guards of Ukraine.

This innovative project is the inspiration of two Kyivan artists and spouses, Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, who are graduates of the National Academy of Fine Art and Architecture, and both live and work in Kyiv. Speaking to Reuters, Klymenko said:

“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 then went on to say: “I don’t want this war to exist. And I don’t want this project to exist either.”

All the paintings in the exhibition are available to buy and have already attracted a lot of interest and have included a purchase by King Charles.

All the money raised from the sale of the art goes to providing medical aid to both militants and civilians in the armed conflict areas in Eastern Ukraine.

A Cathedral spokes person said :

“The artwork is not only stunning and truly unique, each painting shares a poignant message about war, peace, human suffering and above all, hope. It is heartening to see something beautiful can have been created from something so devastating, and that through buying a piece of this art you are helping, in a small way, alleviate some of the suffering of those caught up in this conflict”

There is free access to the exhibition which can be found in the South West Transept of Ely Cathedral.

Icons on Ammo Boxes –  until Sunday 1 February

Photos : Ely Cathedral Image Library.