From the room of anger to interaction with sound waves: “Serendipitous Events” exhibition opens at the Ukrainian House

On March 1, the National Center “Ukrainian House” will open the exhibition “Serendipitous Events”, implemented by the agency and NGO Port of Culture in cooperation with UN Women Ukraine and the United Nations Population Fund, the cultural center “Ukrainian House” and NGO INSCIENCE. This is an experimental art project where visitors will see joint projects by ten female innovators and ten female artists. The exhibition “Serendipitous Events” aims to establish connections between the fields of art and innovation, creating an integrated space for women who continue to live and work in Ukraine.

Following an open call that lasted two weeks, 20 participants were selected from more than 160 applications. For a month, they worked in the lab, exploring new forms of collaboration and creating joint projects under the guidance of a curatorial team: Oksana Barshynova, Katia Taylor, Tetiana Zhmurko, Anna Orekhova, and Daryna Yakymova, as well as facilitator Tamara Suhenko and invited experts.

The projects, which emerged from a spontaneous choice of topics and directions, explore the fundamental issues of our time. They cover both global challenges such as nuclear safety, ecological agriculture, the risks of technological development, climate change, and responsible use of resources, as well as personal aspects such as women's space for creativity, corporeality, and inclusiveness of the urban environment.

“The project aims to provide psychological support, share experiences, and increase the visibility of women's achievements,” comments Katia Taylor, one of the project's curators. “Our goal is to identify the potential at the intersection of these areas and give voice and visibility to those talents that often remain in the shadows.”

Thus, the Oasis project creates conditions for a deep sensory experience through interaction with sound waves that change the perception of space. The sculpture dedicated to black and white symbolizes the fragility of the balance of the modern world. The project “We live in the Proxima Centauri system” offers an astronomical metaphor for the past, using archives and photographs that reflect the irreversibility of change. “My Room” rethinks the concept of personal space as a place of freedom, voice and creativity. “Horizontal Connections” explores the equal interaction in art and science through the metaphor of mycelium spreading - a natural network that ensures survival through the exchange of resources. 

"Innovation thrives in ecosystems where diverse fields - art, technology, science, and social impact – converge in unexpected and meaningful ways. Amid the ongoing war, Ukrainian women continue to lead, create, and innovate despite immense challenges. The Serendipitious Events showcases how they are pushing boundaries, reimagining possibilities, and shaping the future through bold ideas and cross-sector collaboration," says Aslihan Ozcan, Partnerships Specialist and Innovation and Technology Coordinator at UN Women Ukraine.

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The “Serendipitous Events” initiative is implemented within the framework of the EU for Gender Equality: Together Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence (Phase 2) program, funded by the European Union and implemented jointly with UN Women Ukraine and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The exhibition is being implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian House Cultural Center under the curatorial supervision of the agency and the Port of Culture NGO.

The content of this material is the sole responsibility of the agency and Port of Culture and does not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women Ukraine, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and/or the European Union.