Surviving Sections of Mariupol's Legendary 'Boreas' Mosaic Documented in New Photos

New Images from Occupied Mariupol

According to Главком: New photographs from the occupied city of Mariupol have surfaced online, revealing that sections of the famed mosaic panel 'Boreas' have partially survived. The Mariupol City Council has shared images from a building reconstruction project, showing the panel's location. The visible remains of the mosaic indicate that a portion of the city's cultural heritage has endured despite the severe damage inflicted during the Russian invasion and siege of Mariupol in 2022. This discovery offers a rare glimpse into the city's pre-war artistic landscape.

The History of the 'Boreas' Panel

The 'Boreas' mosaic was created in 1967 by a collective of artists led by monumental painter and dissident Alla Horska. The authorial group also included:

• Viktor Zaretsky
• Halyna Zubchenko
• Borys Plaksiy
• Hryhoriy Pryshedko
• Vasyl Parakhin
• Nadiya Svitlychna

This artwork was originally part of the interior design for the 'Ukraina' restaurant in Mariupol, later known as the 'Metropol,' which was situated in the city center. Such mosaics were a significant form of public art in the Soviet era, often carrying subtle cultural or political meaning.

Separately, the 'Boreas' mosaic has been referenced in an ongoing copyright lawsuit involving painter Ivan Marchuk. Marchuk is engaged in legal proceedings to reclaim his authorship rights after being persuaded by Mykhailo Apostol to sign an agreement transferring rights to all his paintings. Apostol's son subsequently obtained an exclusive 100-year license to use the copyrights for all of Ivan Marchuk's works.

The recovery of cultural artifacts like the 'Boreas' mosaic is a crucial step in preserving Mariupol's historical memory after the extensive wartime destruction. These surviving fragments not only symbolize cultural resilience but also renew interest in the city's history and artistic legacy. Meanwhile, Ivan Marchuk's court case underscores the critical importance of copyright protection in the arts, a matter with potential long-term implications for Ukrainian artists and their creative output.