IN THE NAME OF THE CITY

Spatial installation, performance, talks  

By Kostyantyn Zorkin  

In collaboration with the Literature Museum (Kharkiv) 

Opening: Friday, 24 October, 7 p.m., performance and talk 

Friday, 24 October, 1 p.m.–8 p.m., exhibition

Saturday, 25 October, 1 pm–8 pm, exhibition

The spatial installation ‘In the Name of the City’ sees itself as an artistic entity that is brought to life by its diverse elements, such as the visitors themselves. It is both a collection of sculptures and a place for performances, dialogue and gatherings.

Victor Dvornikov

Viktor Dvornikov is an architect and restorer born in Kharkiv. He studied at the Faculty of Architecture at the National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (KNUBA) in Kharkiv. He heads the organisation ‘Platform for Urban Development’ and the architecture workshop ‘SVOE’. He is involved in the preservation and popularisation of cultural heritage, restoration, architectural design, and the design and manufacture of original interior and landscape design objects.

Kostyantyn Zorkin

Konstantin Zorkin – artist. Born in 1985 in Kharkiv (Ukraine). Education: Kharkiv State Academy of Culture, specialising in cultural studies. Works in the fields of performance, puppet theatre, graphic design, sculpture, installation, land art, etc. He is the author of stage designs for numerous plays, including ‘Giraffe Mons’ (Kharkiv Puppet Theatre) and ‘Medea’ (Frankivsk Drama Theatre). Winner of the All-Ukrainian Theatre Award GRA 2024 ‘For Best Stage Design’. In his work, he uses natural materials (ink, paper, wood, metal, textiles) as well as manual tools and processing. 

GENOCIDE

Multimedia concert  

By Aziza Eskender

Friday, 24 October, 9 p.m.

Aziza Eskender's musical performance ‘Genocide’ tells the story of the Crimean Tatars – from the pain of mental and physical enslavement to the search for liberation and justice. Aziza questions the role of art in war, seeing it as a force that can inspire, shape resistance and shake empires. For her, being a Crimean Ukrainian means defending freedom, dignity and the uniqueness of the individual. She is convinced that without a free, democratic Crimea, there will be no peace – because it is the key to profound change. Aziza Eskender is a voice of Crimea that echoes thanks to the struggle of many previous generations and many contemporaries, a voice that echoes despite the dark centuries of destruction and genocide and today stands for freedom, justice and the rebirth of her people. 

Aziza Eskender

Aziza Eskender is a non-binary, multidisciplinary artist from the Crimean Tatar community. Through music, painting, dance, and performance, she explores her people's journey from spiritual and physical enslavement to liberation and the birth of new ideas for the indigenous peoples of Ukraine. Born in exile in Uzbekistan, she represents a new generation of free Crimean Tatars who see it as their mission to connect worlds and fight for the decolonization of thought. Her art—dark Crimean Tatar trip hop—makes the pain of change palpable and calls on us to admit mistakes, courageously fight against stereotypes, and envision a different future.

SONGLINES OF UKRAINE

A multimedia concert using experimental and traditional sounds  

A project by Kultur Medialna and Freihandelszone – Ensemblenetzwerk Köln e.V. 

Saturday, October 25, 9 p.m.

In the belief system of the Australian Aborigines, ancestors drew lines of songs across the land when they created the world. These “songlines” have become invisible paths – meridians along which one can orient oneself in space and memory.

Many rural regions of Ukraine still boast a rich cultural heritage today. Thousands of voices can be heard here—in different languages and rhythms that tell of diverse identities and have always defied Russia's attempts at colonization.

SONGLINES OF UKRAINE is a project dedicated to researching and documenting traditional music practices in Budjak (part of Bessarabia). Under the direction of singer Mariana Sadovska and music ethnologist Artem Tselikov, a team of artists travels to Albanian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Moldovan, Romanian, and Romani villages in this region to experience the music and traditions of the local inhabitants.

Following research and artistic work phases in Dnipro and Cologne, the ensemble invites you on a musical journey through an interactive sound installation by Marko Medvedev, a video projection by Olena Misura, crossover compositions by Mariana Sadovska, and traditional songs by musicians from Budzhak.

SONGLINES OF UKRAINE is a project by Kultura Medialna from Dnipro and Freihandelszone – Ensemblenetzwerk Köln e.V., funded by the European Union as part of the “House of Europe” program.

With: Marko Medvedev, Olena Misura, Mariana Sadovska, and musicians from the Budjak region

With the kind support of the European Union as part of the “House of Europe” program. 

Participating artists: Panas Bakanovskyi, Natalia Kalaianova, Mykola Lupan, Marko Medvediev, Olena Misiura, Ivan Mladinov, Mahdalena Paskar, Aurika Paskar, Maryna Prakhova, Violetta Shyshman, Artem Tselikov, Olha Vasylets, Mariia Yarchuk, Hanna Zheliaskova 

MILITANTROPOS

Documentary film about life that only emerges in war 

FR, UA, AUT 2025, 111 min. 

by Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozgovyi, Yelizaveta Smith 

Friday, October 24, 5 p.m. 

The film by Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozgovyi, and Yelizaveta Smith shows how people accept war as part of their reality.

Without a classic main character, it opens up multiple perspectives—from those who have to flee, to those who take up arms, to people who lose their homes or are left behind in the rubble. The film highlights reactions to aggression and violence, to the loss of familiar spaces, and to adapting to a new reality. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was also part of the Munich Film Festival program.

Participating artist: 

Khrystyna Lizogub 

Khrystyna Lizogub is known for Butterfly Vision (2022), A Bit of a Stranger (2024), School Number 3 (2017), and Militantropos (2025)—films that premiered at international festivals such as Cannes and the Berlinale, among others.

MY DEAR THÉO

Documentary about a mother's attempt to explain to her son why she is in the army and not at home DK, PL 2025 (98 min.) by Alisa Kovalenko

Saturday, October 25, 5 p.m.

In a series of letters to her young son, mother, soldier, and film director Alisa Kovalenko documents her thoughts from the Ukrainian front. 

Alisa Kovalenko

Alisa Kovalenko, born in Zaporizhia in 1987, is a Ukrainian documentary film director. She studied at the Karpenko-Kary Film School in Kyiv and the Andrzej Wajda Film School in Warsaw. Her debut film, Alisa in Warland, premiered in 2015 in the First Appearance competition at IDFA Amsterdam. 

Her second documentary, Home Games, was again featured at IDFA; the film screened at over 120 international festivals and was the first Ukrainian creative documentary to be acquired by Netflix. This was followed by successes such as We Will Not Fade Away (premiered at the Berlinale in 2023) and My Dear Théo (premiered at CPH:DOX in 2025). 

In 2019, Kovalenko was accepted into the European Film Academy (EFA). She also curates the documentary film competition at the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival. In March 2022, she joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to actively defend her country. 

PODIUM WITH UKRAINIAN ARTISTS II

Panel discussion with film producer Ulyana Osovska, director Alisa Kovalenko, and Andrij Palash

Saturday, October 25, 6:45 p.m.

Participating artists: 

Alisa Kovalenko

Alisa Kovalenko, born in Zaporizhia in 1987, is a Ukrainian documentary film director. She studied at the Karpenko-Kary Film School in Kyiv and the Andrzej Wajda Film School in Warsaw. Her debut film, Alisa in Warland, premiered in 2015 in the First Appearance competition at IDFA Amsterdam. 

Her second documentary, Home Games, was again featured at IDFA; the film screened at over 120 international festivals and was the first Ukrainian creative documentary to be acquired by Netflix. This was followed by successes such as We Will Not Fade Away (premiered at the Berlinale in 2023) and My Dear Théo (premiered at CPH:DOX in 2025). 

In 2019, Kovalenko was accepted into the European Film Academy (EFA). She also curates the documentary film competition at the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival. In March 2022, she joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces to actively defend her country. 

Ulyana Osovska

Ulyana Osovska hat einen Abschluss in Internationaler Wirtschaftswissenschaft von der Nationalen Wirtschaftsuniversität Kiew. Die ukrainische Revolution im Jahr 2014 weckte ihr Interesse daran, die Welt mit der Kamera zu dokumentieren. Im selben Jahr war sie Mitbegründerin der Firma Docutoloka. Ulyana debütierte 2015 als Regisseurin mit dem Kurzdokumentarfilm „Election Agent“. Ihr Debüt als Regisseurin eines abendfüllenden Dokumentarfilms, „Almost 10,000 Voters“, feierte seine Weltpremiere beim 33. Warschauer Filmfestival (2017) und seine ukrainische Premiere bei DOCUDAYS UA (2018). Beim Rivne IFF „Dream City“ (UA) wurde dieser Film als „Bester nationaler Langfilm“ ausgezeichnet. „Tales of a Toy Horse“ ist ihr zweiter Langfilm.