You Destroy. We Create - The war on Ukraine's culture

Witness how Ukrainian art and culture have become targets of the ongoing war, and meet the inspiring people on the frontlines protecting it. What happens when museums can no longer show their collections, instead need to hide them? What does it mean to be a street artist during war? What music do you make when your country is under attack? 

"You Destroy. We Create" takes you on an immersive journey through Ukraine, where artists and professionals from the cultural sphere are protecting, rebuilding and creating art. Since the start of the war, civilian deaths have mounted to thousands and seven million have fled the country. Another casualty has been culture. According to UNESCO over 200 sites of cultural importance have been damaged.

This timely journalistic piece uses a combination of 360°/180° stereo videos, drone footage, photogrammetry scans and CG animations to bring you an emotionally engaging, urgent human story.

Artist Statement:

When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, we sat glued to our screens in disbelief, scrolling through feeds of friends stuck in the country or fleeing the violence. From our studio in east Berlin, the conflict felt very close to home. 

Since the start of the offensive in February 2022, Ukrainian culture has been a casualty. Over a hundred monuments of cultural importance have been destroyed; museums, theatres, cinemas and musical venues have largely remained shut. Our piece throws the spotlight on some of the people on the frontlines who are risking their lives to protect and keep culture alive.

With the help of high end 360/180 video cameras we capture the lives of these cultural activists in Ukraine today. The technology helps us get up close and personal with our protagonists and collaborators, which we hope helps audiences understand the nuances and complexities of war.