THE BOY WITH THE PIANO. ON ART AND WAR IN UKRAINE - EWA SUŁEK

A shocking story about the power of art in the face of conflict. Ewa Sułek's book is a moving report from Ukraine, where artistic activities have become a form of resistance and a struggle for identity. With extraordinary sensitivity, the author brings the unknown face of Ukrainian culture closer to the Polish reader, showing its role in shaping social and political awareness.

• Unique perspective on the revolution and war in Ukraine through the prism of art.
• In-depth analysis of cultural and social changes.
• Combination of popular science literature with reportage.
• Maturity of view and craftsmanship of the author.
• Courageous look at the reality accompanying the work and life of artists.
• Original literary form combining oral and written transmission.
• Sophisticated sense of humor cushioning the seriousness of the issues raised.

Ewa Sułek, a historian of art by education, with passion and commitment explores uncomfortable issues, delving into their meaning. Her text is characterized by knowledge in the field of culture, especially in the field of visual arts. The author successfully brings Ukrainian art closer to the Polish reader, which is still largely unknown to Poles, despite the geographical proximity and cultural and historical ties between Poland and Ukraine. Through art, she shows phenomena and currents of thought that are important for Ukrainians today and that allow us to understand the social and political moods prevailing in this society.

The revolution and war in Ukraine have so far been presented from the point of view of military actions and political movements. Meanwhile, every conflict brings not only political but also cultural changes, expressed in artistic activities. Art and culture reflect social attitudes. Therefore, by observing artistic activities, we can learn a lot about the awareness of Ukrainian society in times of enormous changes regarding the essence of the Soviet man. Many commentators of the revolution emphasized this transformation as the first signal that a civil society is being born in Ukraine.

Ewa Sułek's text draws attention with its maturity of view, craftsmanship and a courageous look at the reality accompanying the work and life of artists. The original and diverse literary form also includes: the combination of oral and written transmission, impressionistic and factual transmission, and the use of more than one type of narration. The ability to capture small gestures or moments results from the sense and attitude of a keen observer. Last but not least, Ewa has a refined sense of humor, rare in Polish prose today, which perfectly cushions the seriousness of the issues she raises. This book is not only a testimony of history, but also an inspiration to reflect on the role of art in shaping the world.