On 12 January 2026, the finissage of the 6th edition of the Kyiv Biennale 2025 took place in Warsaw under the title «Near East, Far West».

The event was organised by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland in cooperation with the OBMIN Foundation, with the partnership of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Poland and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.

The official opening of the event featured speeches by representatives of the organising and partner institutions: Joanna Mytkowska (Director of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw), Vasyl Bodnar (Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland), Miguel Berger (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Poland) and Małgorzata Ławrowska-von Thadden (CEO of the OBMIN Foundation). In their speeches, the high-ranking representatives emphasised that, in the face of ongoing armed aggression by Russia against Ukraine, contemporary art takes on special significance as a vehicle for conveying a strong international message of solidarity. This message is conducive to consolidating efforts to protect European values and democratic principles, and to showing support for Ukraine.

An important part of the programme was a debate with the participation of Olesia Ostrovska-Lutej, Director of the Mystetskyi Arsenal in Kyiv and Kateryna Ritz-Rakul, Director of the Ukrainian Institute in Germany. During the discussion, the realities of the functioning of Ukrainian cultural institutions in wartime were outlined – between the need to ensure continuity of activity and responsibility towards society. It was emphasised that culture in times of crisis remains a space for real dialogue, strengthening social resilience and shared responsibility.

The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Polish government circles, cultural institutions, and Ukrainian social organisations.

Photo: Vitaly Bodnar