Shadows of Anghiari's Choice: An Exhibition in Lviv
Lviv's POLITE gallery has opened its first exhibition. The venue is part of Lviv Polytechnic National University, and the show presents three large canvases with dark human silhouettes: one standing figure, two people seated opposite each other, and a person with a prosthetic leg. A significant share of the works were created in 2025. The exhibition appears at a moment when many Ukrainian cultural institutions are using art to process the experiences of war.
The project is by artist Oleh Tistol and is titled "Shadows of Anghiari's Choice." In these works, soldiers' shadows are turned into symbols of memory, dignity, and hope.
Opening of the Exhibition
Andriy Moskalenko, first deputy mayor of Lviv, attended the opening and said:
"This is a place where meanings are created. Today, thanks to such wonderful artists—and above all thanks to the veterans who became symbols of this project—a new meaning is being born here. These are people we know, people who defend our state, and people to whom we owe our independence today. I thank everyone who creates meanings. Meanings are what allow us, as a nation, to show the world what true values are." Andriy Moskalenko
Nataliia Shakhovska, rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University, took part in the event as well. Her reflection on the artwork: "A painting fixes what we feel, can see, and perhaps can somehow measure and understand. But a shadow changes at every moment—it is not a constant. How do you capture something that is not a constant? For me personally, this is a mystery. And it is something incredible." She also underlined the meaning of the pieces: "These are the shadows of those thanks to whom we live, thanks to whom we can exist as a nation, thanks to whom we are still Ukrainians. They are our heroes, our titans."
Oleh Tistol described the creative process: "We wanted to make it into a kind of game. These are real shadows. First we had to persuade the soldiers, but later they responded on their own—military people, our people depicted here—arrived. We talked, and we simply drew their real shadows."
The show has become a notable event in Lviv's cultural life, offering a new way to think about memory and dignity in troubling times.
The exhibition also highlights art as a means of reflecting on urgent social issues, particularly war and its consequences for society. It can serve as a platform for discussing dignity and memory, themes closely tied to Ukrainian history and culture. Engaging with such projects contributes to public awareness and supports national identity under difficult circumstances.
As Ukrainian art continues to evolve in response to the ongoing conflict, another significant exhibition titled 'Ukraine - Beauty Beyond Pain' is set to open in Italy, showcasing the resilience and beauty of the nation through a different medium. This event further emphasizes the role of art in reflecting and processing the complexities of war, much like the powerful works displayed at the POLITE gallery in Lviv.