“The absence of memory destroys dignity”: an interview with theatre director Vlad Troitskyi as part of the project of the Museum of Civilian Voices founded by Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

On April 9, the Kyiv History Museum hosted a public interview with Vlad Troitskyi, theatre director, playwright, founder of the GOGOLFEST festival, and leader of the Dakhabrakha music project. The meeting was organised as part of the documentary project of the Museum of Civilian Voices founded by Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

The topic of the conversation is “Antidote to Manipulation through Culture and Art”. The conversation was moderated by Nataliia Yemchenko, SCM Communications Director and member of the Supervisory Board of Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

During the conversation, they discussed the culture of memory as a discipline of preserving the truth, the formulation of the Ukrainian myth, and the role of art in the struggle during the war.

According to Vlad Troitskyi, memory as a part of culture is one of the tuning forks that unites citizens and gives a sense of national unity.

“I have heard the idea that memorialisation should take place after the war, and I strongly disagree with this. It is very important for the relatives and comrades-in-arms of the victims to understand that you are respected. It should be a certain place, not a cemetery, but a public space where you can feel both sadness and hope. By not remembering, you destroy your dignity,” explains Vlad Troitskyi.

Art affects the subconscious and helps people “think with their hearts”. This contributes to the development of an inner tuning fork, which sets a person up to make the right decisions based on a sense of truth and justice.

“Now everyone feels like a part of a collapsing world. But we cannot live in the hope that the war will end soon. Unfortunately, it has become a part of our lives. This process can be perceived with horror, but it can also be perceived with interest. Therefore, we must first of all focus on ourselves and those around us. And it is imperative to build a space of respect, dignity, love, and hope around us,” Vlad Troitskyi emphasises.

The Museum of Civilian Voices founded by Rinat Akhmetov Foundation is also making efforts to preserve national memory. The archive already contains more than 130,000 stories about the war. It is the world’s largest collection of stories of civilians affected by russia’s war against Ukraine.

The public interviews are part of the Museum of Civilian Voices series of cultural events aimed at preserving the memory of the war. The documentary project is currently titled “Diaries of the Civilians: Voices of those who survived and those who did not”.

Follow the announcements of the events on the social media of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and on the Museum’s website https://civilvoicesmuseum.org/.