Lithuania has accepted for restoration more than 1500 paintings and art objects from Ukrainian museums in the frontline areas
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, more than 1,500 cultural and artistic values from Ukraine have been moved to Lithuania for restoration. This is reported by LRT, Ukrinform reports.
Prymachenko’s paintings among the evacuated treasures
Among the works evacuated to Lithuania were the works of the prominent Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko. About 100 of her paintings have already been exhibited in museums, but 15 of the most damaged are still being restored at the Pranas Gudynas Conservation Center.
According to the head of the Center, Jurate Senvaitienė, most of these works were not damaged during the war, but were stored in the frontline regions of Ukraine. They were evacuated to western Ukraine and from there to Lithuania.
“Our restorers traveled to western Ukraine to inspect the works, assess their condition, and prepare them for transportation,” Senvaitienė said. In particular, Prymachenko’s paintings were stored in the Zaporizhzhia museum, from where they were successfully evacuated.
Campaign to support the restoration
In October, the Lithuanian National Art Museum together with the Jonas Karolis Hodkevicius Foundation for Support and Charity launched a campaign to raise funds for the restoration of Maria Prymachenko’s works. Specialists of the Conservation Center are assessing the condition of the works, preparing them for long-term storage and exhibitions, and conducting technological research.
Exhibitions in Lithuania and Kyiv
A significant part of Maria Prymachenko’s paintings is already presented at the exhibition “I Give You Sun Art” at the Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum in Vilnius. The exhibition will last until March 2, 2025 and allows Lithuanian viewers to get acquainted with the work of the Ukrainian artist.
In Kyiv, admirers of Maria Prymachenko’s work have the opportunity to visit the exhibition “Maria Prymachenko. Unknown” at the National Museum of Decorative Arts, where 60 previously unknown works by the artist are presented for the first time.