Shevchenko arrives in Miensk; Belarusian-Ukrainian relations begin new chapter (05/12/02)

Shevchenko arrives in Miensk; Belarusian-Ukrainian relations begin new chapter

Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

MIENSK - The unveiling in Miensk of a statue of Taras Shevchenko and the opening of an exhibition of his paintings and sketches has crowned a memorable week in the life of Ukrainians in Belarus and attested to an upturn in relations between two neighboring Slavic nations, at least in the cultural sphere.

The statue of the great bard by the sculptor Viktor Lypovka was unveiled in the Belarusian capital on April 22 by the mayors of Kyiv and Miensk in a small park located near the Embassy of Ukraine in central Miensk, only a hundred yards away from the U.S. and Russian embassies. The unveiling marked the formal opening of a series of cultural events organized as part of a Days of Kyiv festival in Miensk and what has been declared the Year of Taras Shevchenko in Belarus.

The statue is a fairly traditional one of the poet standing with his arms folded and seemingly lost in thought. Consequently, when on the bright Monday afternoon after the official ceremony was over, a Ukrainian folklore ensemble from Kyiv named Berehynia appropriately performed "Dumy Moyi" many among the 300 or so people present who understood the words and sentiments and grasped the significance of the occasion were visibly moved.

At a reception in the Ukrainian Embassy, an impressive modern building in central Miensk opened in 2000, the celebrated Belarusian writer Nil Gilevich and his colleagues paid tribute to the influence that Taras Shevchenko has had on Belarusian literary life and them personally.

"Shevchenko, as a champion of freedom remains an inextinguishable source of inspiration for our brotherly peoples," stressed Mr. Gilevich.

That evening there was a professionally performed gala concert given by some of the finest artists from the Ukrainian capital for an audience made up of Belarusian and Ukrainian officials, diplomats, and those from among the 250,000 or so Ukrainians living in Belarus lucky enough to have obtained invitations.

A second concert on the following evening by the Berehynia ensemble was less official and seemed to give the public, judging from the enthusiastic, sometimes almost ecstatic, responses, more of what it wanted - good old Ukrainian folk songs, whether sentimental, rousing or humorous, and of course, spectacular and graceful dances from the diverse regions of Ukraine.

While the official atmosphere was cordial throughout, various nuances in the opening remarks of the two mayors at the gala concert nevertheless attested to the different paths that Ukraine and Belarus have embarked upon since achieving independence. Coverage of Ukraine in the official media tends to be slanted, depicting Ukrainians as nationalists who are stubbornly looking Westward and undermining efforts by Presidents Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus and Vladimir Putin of Russia to promote Slavic unity within the Commonwealth of Independent States and as exemplified in the Russian-Belarusian union.

The Miensk Mayor Valentin Popov said that the Days of Kyiv were proof that the damage and "rupturing of ties" caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union 10 years ago was finally being repaired and that the process of re-integration among the Eastern Slavic peoples was beginning to gather force.

By contrast, Kyiv Mayor Oleksander Omelchenko spoke of the close relations that had existed between Ukrainians and Belarusians during their thousand-year often shared and difficult history, and the new opportunities that independence had brought them, as well as Russia, to enjoy relations as free and equal partners based on mutual respect.

On April 23 an exhibition of "Taras Shevchenko as an Artist" was opened by the Belarusian Minister of Culture in the Belarusian National Art Museum, where it will run for a month. As the director of the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Kyiv, Serhii Halchenko, pointed out, this is the first time that such an exhibition, comprising 52 works, has been assembled and shown outside of Ukraine.

"The risk that Ukraine is taking in letting some of its most priceless cultural treasures leave the country is a measure of our genuinely brotherly ties with your people," he told the guests.

Seeing so many of Shevchenko's original artworks assembled in one place brings out the superb talent, sensitivity and humanity of the man and a greater appreciation of the way that the artist and poet were fused in his genius.

The long-suppressed nude self-portrait of Shevchenko that Prof. George Grabowicz recently unveiled in the journal Krytyka (September 2000) is not included among the works displayed, but it is clear from what there is that the bard was a more complex and fascinating individual than traditionally depicted.

Certainly, the city authorities of Miensk and Kyiv deserve praise for the fine way in which the Days of Kyiv were organized. As was frequently pointed out during the official celebrations, the real driving force behind this event and bringing Shevchenko to Miensk was Ukraine's ambassador to Belarus, Anatolii Dron. His perseverance during the numerous difficulties and frustrations in recent years connected with getting the statue of the Kobzar erected in the Belarusian capital were acknowledged by several of the main speakers.

The conclusion of the Days of Kyiv in Miensk is to be followed on April 27 by another noteworthy event in the city - the sixth Festival of Ukrainians in Belarus. Despite immense problems with finances the Ukrainian Cultural Center Sich is bringing together choirs, dancers and artists from all parts of Belarus, and even some guest performers from Ukraine.

Undoubtedly, Ukrainian cultural life survives in Belarus and is showing some signs of a revival. In Miensk there are two active cultural societies, Vatra and Sich that serve as a focal point for counterparts in other parts of the country.

In Belarus, Ukrainians can be found in all walks of life. The former chairman of the State Committee for Religion and Nationalities, Oleksander Bilyk, was born and raised in Ukraine. Two of the stars of the Belarusian National Opera are Ukrainians-Halyna Hubska, who on April 20 celebrated her 25th jubilee year as an artist in a glowing performance of "Tosca," in which several guest international stars also took part, and Mykhailo Zhyliuk.

But the difficult economic conditions in the country make the promotion of organized Ukrainian life very problematic. Finding the money to pay for the fuel to transport dancers and singers to Miensk even the relatively short distances from Brest, Homiel, Viciebsk or Mahilae and to provide them with elementary snacks was a daunting undertaking for the organizers of Saturday's festival. One group of Ukrainian enthusiasts in the Belarusian capital is currently trying to publish a Ukrainian newspaper, but is strapped for cash and is desperately seeking a used computer.

The arrival of Taras Shevchenko in Miensk in April followed by the announcement that next year there will be Days of Miensk in Kyiv, therefore, has given a massive boost to Ukrainian cultural activists in Belarus who are not short of energy and ideas, but are constrained by the lack of means. It has at last also placed cultural relations between Ukraine and Belarus on a more prominent level.

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