A window on war
Challenge
Seven million people had been forced to flee the country; eight million others had been displaced or were fighting for their homeland. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the world had to take action.
Five weeks later, the Ukraine Embassy to the UK wanted to host a reception to raise awareness and funds for the people of Ukraine. How could we refuse?
But time was tight and the project involved numerous challenges. Once a venue had been chosen, we had only 15 days to design, create and deliver this constantly changing project. On the day, Tate Modern remained open to the public until one hour before guests started to arrive, giving us little time to set up a complex installation on two floors. And there remained the challenge of trying to connect with President Zelensky for his speech from his bunker in Kyiv.
Solution
In partnership with the Kyiv-based Banda agency, Bravery in Ukraine brought to life the nation’s struggle for survival, uncovering incredible stories of people’s dignity, hope, resilience and strength.
Led by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, 400 guests at Tate Modern raised money and awareness for the plight of Ukrainians, particularly the children killed in Russian raids. Each was represented by a single sunflower. Seven immersive installations, including a bunker at the entrance, took guests to the heart of the conflict. President Zelensky gave his speech, and there was a live auction of seven lots, including his trademark khaki fleece. Outside, riverside landmarks were dressed in the colours of Ukraine for the evening.
In a matter of days, we created an award-winning event that changed people’s lives, galvanised support for Ukraine and raised money for the rebuilding of a children’s cancer hospital in Lviv.