ArtArmor artistic project is unique not only for Ukraine but also for the whole world. The variety of means and techniques used in the transformation of armor plates into artillery objects that saved human life provides a wide range of opportunities for the implementation of creative ideas.

 

The name for the new art direction was proposed by the founder of ArtArmor and the Ukraine for Heroes Charitable Foundation Oleksandr Kovalchuk.

 

“Πανοπλοηρά” – in Ukrainian transliteration, this word will sound like “panoploeira”.

 

According to Oleksandr Kovalchuk, this name is formed from the Greek word “panoply” and the suffix “-eira”. Thus the word “Πανοπλοηρά” means “with images” or “decorated with images”.

 

This term refers to the artistic decoration of protective military equipment with images, paintings, or icons.

 

We propose to use it to denote the artistic works of the ArtArmor project and other works of the corresponding artistic direction, which will be inspired by the creativity of the artists participating in our project and other philanthropists who support Ukraine.

In the Rivne region, the selection of the winners of the “Colors of Victory” art competition, organized by the team of the ArtArmor art project within the ArtArmor-Children direction, which was created to attract young generations to art and support Ukraine, has ended.

 

During the collection of works, which lasted throughout April, the organizers of the competition made some changes to its conditions: initially, it was planned that only the winner would get the right to transfer his work to the armor plate that saved the life of the defender of Ukraine. In the end, they decided to give this right to the “silver” and “bronze” prize-winners as well.

 

First place goes to Maria Kotiai from Rivne, who studies art at the Rivne City Palace of Children and Youth.

 

 

The second place goes to Sofia Yakovenko, who also lives in the city of Rivne. She studies at the EuroArt Art Studio.

 

 

Third place – Karina Chugay from the village of Voronki, Varas district. She did not provide information about her art education.

 

 

Also, two participants of the competition who are children with special needs, and despite everything, are purposeful and create beautiful pictures, will receive incentive awards.

 

Incentive awards will be given to:

 

Yaroslav Gaidayenko, a pupil of the EuroArt Art Studio:

 

 

Yevgenia Lytvynenko, student of the EvroArt Art Studio:

 

 

The winners and participants of the competition will be awarded, followed by an exhibition and presentation of the works of all contestants in the city of Kyiv, at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.

 

The artists who won prizes will transfer their works to the armor plates that saved the lives of soldiers defending Ukraine at the front.

 

Work has also already begun on the planning of the nationwide competition ArtArmor Children.

Kaido Ole, one of Estonia’s most famous contemporary artists, has completed his work for ArtArmor.

 

He turned the armor plate that saved the life of a Ukrainian soldier into a real wound inflicted on people by Russia’s war against Ukraine.

 

“It was not an easy task at all. Compared to war and real bullet marks, art can add not so much. I decided to point out what is already there and make these marks more visible (and painful) because the kind of wounds from this bloody war are guaranteed to all of us. For many people, these are real wounds on the body, and for others – wounds in the souls and hearts. Especially for me,” the artist himself describes his work.

 

Kaido joined the ArtArmor project and received an armor plate to create an art object in March 2023.

 

He presented Estonia at the jubilee 50th Venice Biennale in 2003, has a large number of awards, and at one time taught at the famous Estonian Academy of Arts, and now supports Ukraine in word and deed.

 

The theme of war is very painful for the Estonian artist, as can be seen from the work of art, which became the armor plate.

 

We are infinitely grateful to Kaido Ole for his support of Ukraine, for his participation in our art project, and for his concern for the struggle of the Ukrainian people for their existence.