On November 21, 2023, an exhibition of works by the world-renowned artist Wassily Kandinsky opened in the gorgeous gallery hall of Torre dos Clérigos, a historical church in Porto, Portugal. “Kandinsky: The Bauhaus Album Rediscovered” features 15 original artworks from the sketchbook of one of the most influential modernist artists. Iryna Fedorenko, a.k.a. SEMIRA, an acclaimed artist from Ukraine, was invited to the event as an art expert. The opening ceremony was attended by Portuguese government representatives, religious leaders, and international ambassadors, including the Ukrainian consulate in Porto.
The first-ever showing of the 15 pages from the Wassily Kandinsky Bauhaus sketchbook was held at the Kyiv National Museum (Kyiv Art Gallery) in 2021. The exhibition finally arrived in Portugal with the help of religious leaders of the Clerigos historical complex, with direct support from the Vatican. No less notably, the Clerigos donated a significant sum to the American Fund of Ukrainian Reconstruction, an initiative aiming to help Ukrainians restore their infrastructure and economy and support them in times of hardship.
Iryna Fedorenko, a Ukrainian artist based in Munich, Germany, who was forced to flee Ukraine with her family to escape the war, was chosen as an art expert for the opening event. The artist also presented one of her latest paintings from the series “Spirits” to the Catholic religious leadership as the American Fund of Ukrainian Reconstruction representative. In return, she received the key to Torre dos Clérigos. Fedorenko shared the news about the exhibition on her social media: “The opening ceremony had incredible ambiance and energy because the people gathered in the hall were united by the same objective of helping others and doing good deeds through beauty, art, and culture.”
It is impossible to talk about the work and life of Wassily Kandinsky without mentioning the time he spent in the Ukrainian city of Odesa. When he was a child, his family traveled a lot but ended up settling in Odesa where the future famous artist received artistic and musical education.
“Kandinsky: The Bauhaus Album Rediscovered” will be on view at Torre dos Clérigos through March 17, 2024. If you happen to be in Porto, we highly recommend visiting this exhibition, which was officially dedicated to the Ukrainian people and their rich artistic and cultural heritage. We also urge you to support the American Fund of Ukrainian Reconstruction in its admirable mission.
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