THE SERIES OF WORKS BY STAS ZHALOBNIUK FROM THE PROJECT “RADIANCE” – A LANDMARK ACQUISITION FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE DNIPRO ART MUSEUM

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to highlight the specific features of the Dnipro Art Museum’s activities under martial law, to outline the transformations related to the rethinking of exhibition policy, the formation of a renewed collection of contemporary Ukrainian art, and the implementation of Stas Zhalobniuk’s exhibition project “Radiance” as an example of current museum practice. The artist’s gift to the museum is also analyzed as a significant acquisition that represents new forms of interaction between the artist and the institution during wartime. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach involving general scientific and special methods of cognition – analytical, historical-chronological, systematization, and generalization. This allowed for an in-depth analysis of the stated issue and the formulation of relevant conclusions. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the application of an integrated approach to the analysis of the case of the Dnipro Art Museum as an example of a strategy for renewing museum identity through relevant exhibition practices, the replenishment of collections with contemporary works, and partnership collaboration with artists. Special attention is given to the “Radiance” project as a form of artistic reflection on the traumatic experience of war. The analysis of Stas Zhalobniuk’s gift provides grounds to identify new trends in museum collection development based on horizontal relationships between the author and the institution. Conclusions. The experience of the Dnipro Art Museum confirms the ability of Ukrainian museum institutions to adapt to new challenges and operate in wartime conditions. The suspension of the main exhibition prompted a rethinking of its content, the implementation of decolonial approaches, and the formation of a renewed visual identity. Partner contributions, particularly the gift from Stas Zhalobniuk, serve as markers of the time and tools for memorializing the experience of war. The “Radiance” exhibition and its extension within the museum’s anniversary program demonstrate the potential of contemporary art as a form of communication, critical reflection, and construction of cultural memory.