#With Love to Ukraine
The journey began in Ukraine. Unexpectedly, in August 2022, Ukrainian blacksmith Serhii Polubotko received a beautifully forged cross along with a humanitarian shipment addressed to the Ukrainian army. It was sent to him by his Slovakian blacksmith friend, Daniel Miclos. The cross bore the inscription: For peace and hope for Ukraine.
In response to this, Serhii Polubotko wanted to assemble a museum collection of crosses in memory of the many victims of the war in Ukraine. Under the working title “With Love to Ukraine,” a call was made asking blacksmiths around the world to create a steel cross no taller than 500 mm, combined with copper, bronze, or brass. The appeal produced over 200 crosses from 27 countries.
For Serhii Polubotko, the theme of the “cross” is clearly related to Christianity. For him, it also signifies intersection, connection, meeting place, vertical and horizontal, cosmos and earth, universal and individual. The simple basic shape of the cross gives artisans unlimited possibilities to play with the material.
The exhibition currently features nearly 300 crosses. Crosses have been sent to the exhibition from numerous European countries, South and North America, Australia, and even Russia.
The first exhibition was held in Norway in the summer of 2023, after which it has toured various parts of Europe.
The blacksmith profession is particularly communal. Over the decades, they have formed a close international network. Blacksmiths have regular contact through various events, conferences, and exhibitions, which has resulted in deep friendships over the years.
The message of the exhibition is to show support for Ukraine, which has fallen victim to a senseless attack. Material support is, of course, vital, but the need for solidarity and compassion is also appropriate at this moment, and the hope they contain is a promise for the future.
Time: 6.9.-30.9.2025
Location: Old Granary
