Opnunarávarp utanríkisráðherra á sýningunni Óður til gleðinnar í Nýlistasafninu, 5. júní 2026

Opnunarávar Þorgerðar Katrínar Gunnarsdóttur, utanríkisráðherra, á sýningunni Óður til gleðinnar eftir úkraínska listahópinn Open Group í Nýlistasafninu, 5. júní 2026.

Ávarpið var flutt á ensku vegna þátttöku erlends listafólks.

Distinguished guests, dear friends,

Good evening and a very warm welcome.

It is a great honour for me to be here this evening for the opening of Ode to Joy by the Ukrainian art collective Open Group.

For many years, Open Group has created art rooted in people's lived experiences and the realities they face. In this installation, the artists draw our attention to the experiences of ordinary people living through the war in Ukraine and to the circumstances that millions have endured over the past years.

It has now been more than four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During this time, Ukrainians have endured relentless air attacks, the destruction of critical infrastructure, and profound uncertainty. People have lost their homes, families have been separated, and daily life has been disrupted in ways that are difficult for most of us to imagine.

This exhibition brings us closer to that experience, even though we can never fully comprehend what it means to live through war in Ukraine. It allows us to see the conflict not only through headlines or statistics, but as a human experience. It reminds us that behind every news report are individuals, families and communities.

And that war is not only about borders and military power.

In Ukraine, deliberate attacks have also been directed at the nation's cultural heritage. Museums have been damaged, cultural sites destroyed, and works of art looted. Such attacks are not directed solely at buildings or objects. They are aimed at what binds a society together: its identity.

They are aimed at what makes a nation a nation.

That is why protecting culture in times of conflict matters.

It has been truly admirable to see how Ukraine has recognised culture as an important element of national security. This reflects an important understanding of the role of culture — not merely as a means of preserving the past, but as a source of strength and resilience in difficult times.

It is on this very foundation that Iceland's support for Ukrainian culture is built. It forms part of Iceland's support for Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, and includes efforts to help preserve cultural heritage and to create platforms where Ukrainian voices can be heard and flourish.

In recent years, the vyshyvanka blouse — such as the one I am wearing this evening — has become a symbol of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. For centuries, it has been an important part of Ukraine's cultural heritage and a source of national pride.

The blouse I am wearing tonight is a cherished gift from the organisation Future for Ukraine, and it is particularly meaningful for me to wear it at the opening of an exhibition that shines a light on the experiences of ordinary Ukrainians living through war.

This installation itself stands as a testament to the enduring strength of culture and artistic expression in the face of war.

The very presence of this installation here tonight is, in itself, testimony to the fact that culture and art continue to live and evolve despite the circumstances facing the Ukrainian people. This exhibition offers us insight into the human reality created by war and provides an important platform for Ukrainian voices to be heard far beyond Ukraine's borders.

It demonstrates that even in times of war and conflict, culture and art endure.

As I formally open this exhibition, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Open Group, the Living Art Museum, and everyone who contributed to bringing this important exhibition to Iceland.

Thank you. Dyakuyu. (Дякую.)

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Sýningin Óður til gleðinnar eftir listamanna hópinn Open Group (Yuriy Biley, Pavlo Kovachog, Anton Varga) byggir á beinni reynslu þeirra af stríðinu í Úkraínu. Ásamt undirliggjandi spurningum um samtíma samfélag – mörk þess, skilyrði og grundvallar forsendur. Titill sýningarinnar vísar til níundu sinfóníu Beethoven sem einnig er þekkt sem Evrópusöngurinn og verður ákveðinn útgangspunktur á sýningunni. Á sama tíma og honum er ætlað að vera tákn um frið og samstöðu í Evrópu, heldur Úkraína áfram að berjast fyrir sjálfstæði sínu.