How Art and Crypto Are Saving Lives in Ukraine?
Russian war against Ukraine has already become the biggest military and humanitarian crisis on the European continent since the World War II.
With many cities burnt to ashes, millions of Ukrainians are forced to flee their homes with nothing but a passport (and often not even that). Unparalleled scale of this humanitarian tragedy brought the world together in its effort to help the refugees, as well as exposed ineptness and futility of the international organizations such as UN, Unicef, and Red Cross to provide immediate relief to the people inside of a war-torn country. Millions are left to survive on their own in besieged Mariupol, constantly bombed Kyiv, and ruined Kharkiv. Thus, unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.
Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation shared multiple cryptocurrency wallets to donate via the most popular coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even Dogecoin. During the first 2 weeks, the initiative helped to raise over $100M due to an easy and rapid transfer that bypasses banks and governmental check-ups. To raise awareness among the crypto community and provide physical (well, almost) gratitude for their donations, a few NFT auctions were launched, including Holy Water ( https://holywater.tech/ ) and Ukraine.Art.War. ( https://ukrainewar.art/ ). By purchasing a unique piece of art, you are saving someone’s life.
Under the current circumstances, many of Ukrainian artists are forced to make art underground in the crowded metro stations and bomb shelters, refugee camps and hospitals, documenting the immense grief and loss that their nation is experiencing. Natalia Shulga, a Kyiv-based illustrator, who was forced to flee her home to the Western Ukraine, reminisce, “This illustration was made on the morning of the first day of the war, while I was trying to calm down.” Her artwork “Peace for Ukraine” is followed by a heartbreaking caption, “Now for Ukrainians, there is no spring, no cycling, no ordinary life. From 5 am today, Ukraine is in a new wave of Russian aggression against Ukraine. We want peace, we want to be Ukrainians, we want to have our Ukraine.”
United into a certain Art Frontline, Ukrainians are leading an art war with Russian propaganda and appeal to the world society on a profound human level through sincere expression of a heartbreak from witnessing all the innocent deaths, rage and anger for demolished historic buildings that even Nazi Germans didn’t dare to harm, and, of course, hope.
Once again, art becomes another weapon, but the benefit of it is that art serves no evil. Neither missiles, nor tanks can stop Ukrainian people from speaking their truth, and in this pivotal moment, it is crucial to support the country that defends Europe. The truth is, Ukraine has already won, but we are yet to defeat the Moskovian regime, the ruthless blood-thirsty machine that keeps killing civilians and children, and you can aid this victory with a simple click.
Stay tuned for the upcoming Ukraine.Art.War. auction on March, 18.
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