22 January 2025

Your Country First — Win With Us Exhibition Unveiled in Davos Alongside a Panel Discussion Featuring Crimean Soldier “Tataryn”

On January 21, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and PinchukArtCentre, in partnership with the Office of the President of Ukraine, unveiled an ambitious project combining an exhibition and a discussion program titled “Your Country First — Win With Us.” The event highlights Ukraine’s fight for freedom and its contribution to global security.

The exhibition, running from January 20 to 23, features works by leading international and Ukrainian artists whose installations and visual narratives reflect the challenges faced by Ukraine. Notable pieces include those by Damien Hirst, David Claerbout, and Oleksii Sai, which explore the fragility of peace and the determination of Ukrainians in their struggle for liberty.

A standout piece is Oleksii Sai’s installation Volia (Will), crafted from the sign of the war-damaged village of Liubymivka in the Kherson region. The video work by Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei, filmed at Kyiv’s central train station, portrays trains arriving with wounded soldiers, serving as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of war. The piece parallels the historic Lumière brothers’ film screening but places it within the context of the modern tragedy of war in Ukraine.

As part of the exhibition, Carl Bildt, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, moderated a panel discussion, Why We Fight For You: A Conversation with Soldiers and Veterans. Participants included Khrystyna Boichuk, Officer of the National Guard of Ukraine; Dmytro Finashyn, Hero of Ukraine and Advisor on Veteran Policy to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; Daniel Salem, Officer of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine; and “Tataryn,” a Crimean Tatar soldier serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A particularly impactful moment was the speech by “Tataryn,” a soldier from Crimea, who emphasized the resilience of Crimean Tatars in their fight to reclaim their homeland.

“I want to live in Crimea — I am asking you to fight so we can come back to our home,” said “Tataryn.”

According to Björn Geldhof, Art Director of PinchukArtCentre, the exhibition aims to demonstrate how the threat of war is encroaching upon Europe. He noted that Ukrainians can teach Europeans the importance of resolutely defending freedom. The event served as an artistic statement and a call to the international community to strengthen its support for Ukraine, which is currently on the front line in the global battle for freedom.

The exhibition remains open for visitors until January 23 at 59 Promenade, Davos, Switzerland.