The Night Has Come is a painting series made in the months preceding the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It expresses the anxiety of the unknown and the premonition of the nearing outbreak of violence. The series examines the ambiguity of the images which conceal fear, displacement, and trauma behind their attractive appearances, using visual references across history of art. The series discusses a variety of topics actualized by the war escalation. It focuses on the implications of striving for the unjust victory and the cost of participation in the war as an aggressor, where the reward is not worth the loss. It also discusses the embellished reality that frames horrible crimes and suffering caused by the atrocity of the war. Additionally, the paintings consider the tension between the enemy who pretends to be caring for the victim (such as the pretext of the Russian invasion of Ukraine) and his real situation of obsession with power.
From the series The Night Has Come, acrylic on canvas, 60×80 cm, 2021
Svitlana Biedarieva 