Ukrainian Fund of Digitized Art Expands Catalogue with Works by Krystyna Melnyk

The Ukrainian Fund of Digitized Art (UFDA) continues its vital mission of digitizing and preserving Ukrainian art for future generations. The fund has recently enriched its online catalogue with three works by Krystyna Melnyk.

The newly added pieces include The Angel of History (2022), Crucified, There Are Crucified Broken Images on the Path to the Common Good Again (2022), and From the Shining Void (2021).

Krystyna Melnyk, born in Melitopol, Ukraine, in 1993, is a prominent figure in the contemporary Ukrainian art scene. She began her artistic journey with foundational training at the Melitopol High College of Culture (2010–2014) and further honed her skills at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (2014–2018). She also attended the Contemporary Art Course at the Kyiv Academy of Media Arts.

In 2019, she completed a course on video art at Viktor Marushchenko's School of Photography, curated by Alina Kleytman. In 2022, she was nominated for the Pinchuk Art Prize.

The artist has participated in numerous exhibitions, including those at Kyiv Acadamy of Media Arts, The Naked Room Gallery, and Voloshyn Gallery, among other venues.

Melnyk’s art is deeply inspired by Georges Bataille, particularly his text "Histoire de l'œil." She seeks to convey a sense of the sacred through the idea of the suffering body, as described by the philosopher. Melnyk engages with the world of sacred feelings not only metaphysically: the artist incorporates levkas and oil into her works. Traditionally used in iconography, these materials provide greater durability to the pieces, which often require extended periods to create.

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Krystyna increasingly identifies herself as an iconographer rather than an artist. Even her early works were tied to reflections on the perception of war's past. In those pieces, the artist contemplated why World War II occurred. At the time, it was difficult to imagine such events repeating. Now, Krystyna's body of work appears prophetic.

In its commitment to preserving Ukraine's cultural heritage, UFDA has announced its first open call for Ukrainian museums, galleries, and artist who want to digitize their works and preserve them for generations to come. 

If you are a Ukrainian artist or institution interested in this opportunity, please complete the Google form. Every submission will be carefully reviewed, and the UFDA team will reach out to you promptly. Please note that we will be accepting applications until May 1, 2025.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via our website's contact form or email us directly at Info@u-f-d-a.org.

Reach out to UFDA today and become part of the largest open catalog of Ukrainian art!