Antytila is a famous Ukrainian band whose members changed their musical instruments for weapons from the first day of the full-scale invasion. During their service, they were directly involved in the battles for Kyiv and Kharkiv region and continue to fight on the cultural front. Through international media, they call on the world to actively help Ukraine, collaborate with Bono and The Edge from U2 and performed together on the same stage with Ed Sheeran, released a joint song and video These are the stories of the war that the members of Antytila witnessed and participated in.
«The fact that the ANTITILA left their instruments and microphones and went to war is a logical decision» — Taras Topolya.
Before the full-scale invasion began, cinematographer Serhii Mykhalchuk was making feature films that were watched in Ukraine and around the world. His work includes about 40 films, 4 of which were nominated for an Oscar and received dozens of world awards for cinematography. However, with russia's attack on Ukraine, Serhii Mykhalchukʼs focus has completely shifted to non-fictional, real-life stories. Having picked up a camera on the first day of the invasion, he still records the events and participants of the war every day. This is the story of an artist who stood up to defend the country at a crucial moment for the country, and a warrior whose main weapon remains creativity.
«For our nation, the war acts as a unifying ideology. It is important that we do not lose this in peacetime» — Serhiy Mykhalchuk.
Ukrainian actor, producer, director and public figure. His filmography includes dozens of roles in films, TV series and theater, as well as a number of directed films, including Cyborgs, Zahar Berkut and Khaytarma. In addition, Seitablaiev heads the Crimean House, which is a cultural center of Crimea in Kyiv and an ambassador of the National Tour "Cinema for Victory!". With the start of the full-scale invasion, Seitablaiev voluntarily joined the Territorial Defense Forces.
«A person is a product of culture in the broadest sense, shaped by the cultural landscape in which they are born, grow up, and are educated» — Akhtem Seitablayev.
Ukrainian writer is known both in Ukraine and far beyond its borders. His novels and poetry have been translated into more than 20 languages and have received numerous national and international awards. In 2022, the Polish Academy of Sciences nominated Zhadan for the Nobel Prize in Literature, adding that "free Ukraine largely speaks and thinks in the words of Zhadan." Serhiy Zhadan has been helping the army since the beginning of the Russio-Ukrainian war in 2014, and since February 2022, he has raised millions of hryvnias at concerts, purchased more than two hundred cars for the army's needs, and constantly performs for the military.
«Undoubtedly, what is happening between us right now is a war of cultures, values, principles, and different realities» — Serhiy Zhadan.
Before the full-scale invasion, a couple from Odesa, Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov, were successful photographers: they photographed couples in love, held master classes and taught the art of photography. But after February 24, 2022, they radically changed the vector of their work: they began to work as documentary photographers in the hottest spots of the war. Their photos are striking, poignant, terrifying, and no one will be left unmoved by them. The works of Kostiantyn and Vlada have traveled all over the world, they are shared by thousands of users on social networks and published by the largest international media, including BBC, Associated Press, Welt, Vogue and Forbes. Photography became their weapon in the fight against the enemy.
«We captured our best photos during the war. But these aren't the shots we wanted to take. It would have been better if none of this had happened — no media publications and no war at all» — Vlada Liberova.
It was from his words that the slogan of the "Culture vs war" project was born, which tells about the war through the eyes of artists and their participation in the struggle for Ukraine's victory. Taras Kompanichenko is a famous Ukrainian kobzar. For more than 30 years, he has been finding and recording riflemen's and insurgent songs in archives. He plays ancient Ukrainian instruments: bandura, Cossack lute, wheeled and korba lyres, and duda. In 2005, he created the band Chorea Kozacky, with which he performs dumas, historical and heroic songs. Currently, Taras Kompanichenko is a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite his service, the kobza is always with him: the musician supports the morale of his comrades, performs at oaths and farewells to heroes, and helps raise funds for the military by organising charity concerts.
«We must persevere in this struggle in order to fulfill God's plan for us - to be free to create» — Taras Kompanichenko.
The full-length film “Culture vs War” is a documentation of the stories of the heroes, evidence and first-person worldview. The full-length film of the project, in addition to the heroes of the film novels, includes: Mykhaylo Illienko (film director, volunteer), Dmytro Linartovych (actor, Armed Forces of Ukraine defender), Yevhen Nyshchuk (actor, Armed Forces of Ukraine defender), and Yaroslav Pilunskyi (cinematographer, Armed Forces of Ukraine defender) and others.
«In life, unlike on a film set, there will be no opportunity to retake a take. What you see is too scary», — Akhtem Seitablaev.
Solo photography exhibitions by the heroes of the “Culture vs War” project – Sergey Mykhailchuk, a cinematographer serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion, and Konstantin and Vlada Libera, military documentary photographers.
Artists protected and preserved Ukrainian culture for centuries. And now they stand side by side with all citizens. The “CULTURE VS WAR” project is the voice of creators who retain the ability to feel and act bravely despite all the horrors of war.
«Any war is a war of cultures», — Serhii Zhadan.
«Art in Ukraine has a mission - it is nation-building», — Taras Kompanichenko.
«People build their future by sacrificing something for our victory», — Vlada and Kostyantyn Liberov.
«For the Ukrainians, who with weapons in their hands go against the army, which was considered the second army in the world, the values of freedom, the values of independence and dignity turned out to be alive, real, such that one can and must die for them», — Serhii Zhadan.
«I believe in our victory, I see all the prerequisites for it», — Taras Kompanichenko.
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