A museum dedicated to the work of world-famous director Sergei Parajanov will open in Kyiv on May 27. The new cultural and educational space will be located at Kyiv International University at 49 Lvivska Street.
As reported by the Department of Culture of the Kyiv City State Administration, the opening will take place at 11:30 and includes:
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a contemporary exhibition with rare materials, collages, and the artist's personal belongings;
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author's installations inspired by his work;
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performances by cultural figures, artists and representatives of national communities;
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the performance "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" by the actors of the Kyiv Academic Theater "Berehynia".
Who is Sergei Parajanov?
Sergei Parajanov is one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. Born in Tbilisi in 1924 of Armenian descent, he closely linked his life with Ukraine. His career began in Kyiv, where he created the film "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors", which became a milestone for Ukrainian cinema.
The film premiered in 1965 at the Ukraina Cinema, and later won 39 international awards in 21 countries. Parajanov's work was highly praised by Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Andrzej Wajda.
Freedom as the main strength of an artist
Contemporaries remember Parajanov as a man of extraordinary inner freedom. He was a friend to Hutsuls, intellectuals, and even convicts — and a stranger to those who were frightened by his frankness. Even in the strict regime camps where he was imprisoned for "anti-Soviet activities," Parajanov created about 800 works of art.
His experimental aesthetic, love of detail, and ability to transform junk into art forever changed the perception of cinema as a form of visual expression.
The museum in Kyiv will become yet another testament to the fact that Parajanov's legacy is alive, relevant, and deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture.
