Ukrainian Museum Director Destroys Critical Painting Ahead Of President's Visit

Fri, 02 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Natalia Zabolotna’s primary job as director of the Mystetskyi Arsenal art museum in Kyiv was to oversee the pieces under her roof.

But on July 25, the night before a visit by President Viktor Yanukovych and the opening of an exhibit meant to celebrate Ukrainian heritage, she took a can of black paint and doused a piece that she deemed “immoral.”

A day later, the destruction of artist Volodymyr Kuznetsov’s “Koliivschina: Judgment Day” has prompted the resignation of the museum’s deputy, helped fuel a street protest, and triggered alarm within the country’s artistic community.

Viktor-Yanukovych on freeDimensional

Ukrainian Museum Director Destroys Critical Painting Ahead Of President's Visit