‘Skarbnytsya Posters Archive’
Gouache on paper, acrylic on wooden box
Over the past three years, a group of GSA’s recent students and graduates have been curating and art-directing the Skarbnytsya exhibition. This project was a response to the tragedy that has befallen Ukraine and its people. Skarbnytsya is the Ukrainian word for a treasure box, the place in which a country keeps its treasures. We chose this word because it symbolises the beauty of objects with a childish appreciation and curiosity. Skarbnytsya team aimed to create a platform to host the work of Ukrainian artists who had lost their spaces to exhibit because of the war. This became an opportunity to form a network, allowing artists to continue showcasing their work during this difficult time. This network also became a form of protest against the disruption of their livelihoods.
The core values of Skarbnytsya are to raise public awareness of young, independent creatives and artists affected by russia’s invasion and to connect them with other creatives in Scotland and across the UK. A portion of the proceeds from art sales is always donated to various humanitarian charities supporting Ukraine. To date, Skarbnytsya has raised £11,882.61, directly supporting Ukrainian artists and promoting international cultural exchange. Our first sale introduced nine Ukrainian artists from Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, featuring works across a variety of mediums.These works opened up a fluid dialogue with the audience, sharing the layered political and personal contexts behind them.
Building on this foundation, our second exhibition expanded in scale and scope, presenting works by 15 Ukrainian artists, 10 Scottish artists, and 5 international contributors. The curation followed a geographic narrative from Ukraine through Poland and Italy, culminating in Glasgow – creating a literal and symbolic mirror between the cultures. This strategic inclusion of Glasgow-based artists helped ground the Ukrainian works in a local context, enhancing resonance and fostering community investment. With support growing from cities like Manchester and London, including a donation of the Mckina Portrait Series by Raw Tape, our reach and network continued to expand.
Our third and most ambitious show explored the themes of journey, passage, and voyage. Drawing on the Celtic labyrinth as a symbol of transition, the exhibition invited visitors into a playful, inquisitive, and immersive environment. It focused on contemporary craft and folk practices, showcasing the journey embedded in each tapestry, weaving, sculpture, and painting. With 42 artists participating – 26 from Ukraine and 16 based in Glasgow – this edition highlighted both parallel and intersecting mythologies, making invisible cultural webs visible. The opening weekend welcomed students, families, Ukrainian visitors, local galleries, and new audiences, affirming the need for these cross-cultural conversations.
A key element throughout Skarbnytsya’s journey has been the design of its exhibition posters, which serve not just as promotional material but as the first chapter in the story of each show. The posters are carefully crafted to set the visual language, as well as the emotional and thematic tone of the upcoming exhibition. The first poster featured an image of a castle, referencing the venue – The House Art Collective – and evoking a sense of place and sanctuary. The second incorporated imagery of Glasgow’s iconic “three-spike” and spinning-top fences, reflecting the city as Skarbnytsya’s home and using the symbol of a fence as a metaphor for Ukrainian sovereignty and the idea of guarded borders. For the third edition, the poster featured a Celtic maze entwined with stone-like branches, evoking the feeling of wandering through a dark forest or labyrinth—where artworks are the hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. This folkloric, storybook tone helped shape the viewer’s experience before even stepping into the space.
The success of each exhibition reaffirms our mission: to create space, opportunity, and financial support for artists whose platforms have been disrupted by war, and to foster shared understanding through creativity.
Words: Ewelinka Dochan, Mary Lydon
