Kevin McNally, Actor, and Phyllis Logan, Actress are some of the art lovers at the party. Photo: Rachel Oates, 2014. Image: courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London
LONDON, UK— The opening of In Our Paradise…, an exhibition of photographs by Ukrainian artists at the Saatchi Gallery opened with a lot of fanfare, bringing together art lovers and celebrities from across the globe. The exhibition is the result of a three-year partnership between The Saatchi Gallery and Firtash Foundation. The objective is to introduce Ukrainian arts and culture to London and the global audience.
This is not the first partnership between the two organizations. The first was in 2013 when Saatchi Gallery presented Contemporary Ukrainian Artists. The show was the most comprehensive exhibition of Ukrainian contemporary art in the UK. Speaking on the new initiative, Nigel Hurst, CEO of the Saatchi Gallery, said:
“Following our successful collaboration with the Firtash Foundation last year, we are delighted to announce this three year patronage. Many people in the UK will be aware of the immense social and political change that is occurring in Ukraine at the moment, but few will be aware of the trulyvibrant contemporary art scene and unique cultural history of the country. The Saatchi Gallery prides itself on providing a platform for international, contemporary artists and we are honoured to begin our partnership with the Firtash Foundation by exhibiting the thought provoking In Our Paradise exhibition.”
In Our Paradise …, a thought-provoking show, reveals the adversities and turbulent history of Ukraine. The show presents gloomy images of war, hunger, and pain that sprinkled Ukraine’s history. While the objective of the show is to promote Ukrainian culture, it will no doubt aid the artistic career of the artists presented. Many of the art lovers at the event were quick to recognize the talents on display.
The launch of In Our Paradise… brought together people from different works of life: artists, actors, curators, directors, designers, photographers, and many other art professionals. Here are some of the people at the event.
Billie JD Porter, TV Presenter and Journalist joined other art lovers at the celebration. Photo: Rachel Oates, 2014. Image: Saatchi Gallery, London