SAVE ME. HELP ME. PROTECT ME

SAVE ME. HELP ME. PROTECT ME.

An exhibition project by Marharyta Zhurunova
Dzyga gallery, Lviv, Ukraine
installation, handprinted monotype, oil, light
2022–23

Fragments were exhibited at The Art Of Resistance, University of Valencia, Spain, 2022, and at Museu d'Art Contemporani Vicente Aguilera Cerni, Vilafamés, Spain, 2023.

The project originated in the first weeks of the war. It was incomprehensible and very scary then, and a wordless, addressless plea for protection was constantly ringing in my head.

This project is the plea that has taken material form. Repeated many times, as it should be with prayers and incantations and children's requests and all real, passionate desires.

The plea that must have been pounding in living hearts as long as there have been hearts - please, please, protect! Please, let someone big and strong come and protect me and everything that is dear to me!

A hand that repeatedly creates an image. A gesture that repeats itself over and over again, a gesture that turns into a ritual.

Childish and at the same time so archaic - if you repeat it enough times, it will definitely come true!