Juan David Latorre
The Embassy of Ukraine presented last Friday the exhibition La vuelta a casa, by the artist Irina Nosok at the Centro Municipal de las Artes del Buero Vallejo in Alcorcón.
As she did in September at the Centro Cultural Galileo in Madrid, the Ukrainian painter has chosen this centre in Alcorcón to show her work again, although this time much more extensive and varied, although with an unmistakable style.
The Ukrainian ambassador, Serhii Pohoreltsev, pointed out during the presentation that “initially we had planned to hold this event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the creation of the European Union at the beginning of November. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to postpone it until today, when we are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity, which in essence reflects Ukraine’s European and democratic vocation”.
The Ukrainian Ambassador also highlighted the date of 8 November last, when “the European Commission adopted a momentous decision for Ukraine, recommending to start negotiations on my country’s accession to the European Union in the framework of the Enlargement Package for 2023. In one and a half years, Ukraine has been able to implement reforms, thus fulfilling most of the recommendations made by the Commission when granting candidate status. There is no doubt that accession will contribute drastically to the consolidation of the Union in both security and economic terms”.
“We meet here,” continued Serhii Pohoreltsev, “to give visibility to the role that art plays in the life of a nation at war. A war that affects us all and serves as a reminder of how important our unity is in the face of aggression by a totalitarian regime against a democratic European country. Iryna’s works are a reflection of her feelings, thoughts and memories, and show a deep insight into the world around us. The artistic images created by this artist, their shapes and colours, resonate in our hearts”.
This exhibition also served as an opportunity for those who wished to contribute to Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky’s United 24 fundraising platform to help those in Ukraine who are in need of support of all kinds. The Ambassador also recalled that “the Embassy continues to raise funds for the humanitarian project to purchase armoured ambulances that will save the lives of many civilians trapped in the area of this unjustifiable and unjust war”.
Artist Iryna Nosok said that “while creating my artwork, I always discover many emotions, but always in the end comes happiness and love. I love each of my works as they have appeared, because they are all alive.
“The title of the collection, The Homecoming, is very exciting for me, the Ukrainian painter said. And this is because to this day, I miss my Ukraine and all Ukrainians very much. Missing, for me, is remembering all those little emotions of the day while I was in my country, at home, at my relatives’ and grandparents’ homes”.
Ambassador Serhii Pohoreltsev told The Diplomat that “the green light has already been given to exhibit Iryna Nosok’s works in the main hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation” for the rest of this year, at a date yet to be determined.
