Rebirth Through Heritage
This project aims to develop strategic concepts for the revival and development of settlements by reclaiming their unique historical identities. Every revitalized community must retain its distinct character. This approach directly counters Russia’s two-century-long policy of systematically erasing Ukrainian local identity.
Our methodology involves bringing a multidisciplinary group of artists and experts to a specific locality. While experts provide deep contextual insights into the area’s history, participants engage in creative interventions to uncover and promote its unique essence. The final outcomes range from designing accessible and safe public spaces, central squares, and thematic museums, to developing tailored hospitality concepts tied to local heritage. Ultimately, these ideas can scale into comprehensive, macro-level development strategies for entire settlements.
Case Study: Novovorontsovka and Velykyi Luh
For instance, Novovorontsovka—located in the northern Kherson region on the shores of the former Kakhovka Reservoir—offers a profound context for addressing decommunization and decolonization laws. Following the catastrophic destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, the waters receded to reveal the territory of Velykyi Luh (The Grand Meadow), a historic economic and natural reserve that once served as the cultural heartland of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. Rich in multicultural monuments, Novovorontsovka is deeply connected to the legacies of numerous prominent historical figures.
Velykyi Luh is a sacred heritage site that hosted various Cossack Siches across different eras. Once characterized by over 400 square kilometers of relict forests and floodplains, this unique ecosystem was almost entirely submerged by the construction of the Kakhovka Reservoir between 1955 and 1958. This Soviet project not only obliterated rare flora and fauna but also systematically erased Ukrainian culture by flooding priceless artifacts, Cossack graves, ancestral cemeteries, and entire villages.
During this period, the Soviet regime forcibly displaced tens of thousands of local residents. The communists’ grandiose electrification and irrigation schemes, alongside water supply projects for the Crimean Peninsula, prioritized abstract ideological goals over human lives, turning entire communities into internally displaced persons.
History tragically repeated itself in June 2023 with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. The region suffered a double ecocide: first from the weaponized flooding, and now from the drying up of the Kakhovka “Sea,” which has left local communities severely dehydrated. The long-term ecological and humanitarian consequences remain difficult to fully predict.
The Vision
Our goal is to transform Novovorontsovka into a groundbreaking open-air museum under the motto: “Rebirth Through Tragedy: Velykyi Luh – A Symbol of Freedom for Posterity.” We plan to assemble a team of museum experts, artists, local historians, ecologists, and urban planners to develop a comprehensive concept for this museum. It will function as a dynamic complex blending indoor and outdoor activities, serving simultaneously as an educational, urban, and cultural hub. This project sets a vital precedent, as no initiative of this nature or scale has ever been implemented in southern Ukraine.