Musée Ukraina Museum - Ukrainian Museum on Ave M

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    Museum History & Beyond a Vision

We recently rearranged some items in the Permanent Gallery, including these porcelain figurines. They suddenly seemed so fragile. These porcelain figurines, as well as those for sale in our Gift Shop, are from a period when Ukraine was under Soviet rule. They originated in factories that were established in the 1880s in western Ukraine. Many were exported under the ‘USSR’ mark – but are actually of Ukrainian style crafted by Ukrainians.

Many will remember the photos from a 2022 attack on civilians where the entire face of the apartment building was destroyed. Clearly visible was a cabinet still attached to a wall. Resting on top of the cabinet – dusty but not broken – a ceramic rooster. It speaks to the resilience to the evil belief that erasing the Ukrainian people will erase Ukraine. It now stands in the Kyiv Maidan Museum.

As recently as August 4/5 a ceramics plant in Kyiv was targeted by a russian missile and drone barrage and destroyed. People were killed. Everyday we hear of such stories of the civilian and defender struggles. We are witness to the destruction of Ukrainian art as russian forces are attempting to annihilate and break Ukrainian life and culture.

In 2024, the film "Porcelain War” was released. That same year, the film won the Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize; and was nominated for the Academy Awards as well as others.

(Photo left and right sourced from the internet)

“Porcelain War” follows the story of three porcelain artists, “ordinary people in an extraordinary situation”, originating from Crimea prior to its annexation by russia. All three have joined the Ukrainian defense yet, still create their porcelain figurines in resistance to the war. One of the ceramicists, Slava, said: “Ukrainian is like porcelain. Easy to break, but impossible to destroy. Seven thousand years and still standing."

Watch Porcelain War on Youtube - while it is still available for free. English subtitles.

Now the time is more important than ever that the Diaspora do what’s necessary to preserve our Ukrainian treasures. That’s part of what we do at MUM. Reflect on that the next time you have the opportunity to view the artifacts we hold dear.