Borodyanka, Tsentralna 427 2022

Editor: We're looking at "Borodyanka, Tsentralna 427" by Banksy, created in 2022. It’s a mural, or really graffiti, on a bombed-out building. The image shows a judo match, or maybe a street fight – but one of the fighters is a child who seems to easily beat an adult. I'm immediately struck by the stark contrast between the innocence of childhood and the utter devastation surrounding it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This piece speaks volumes about power, resilience, and the global political landscape. The child’s victory, painted on the ruins of Borodyanka, becomes a powerful metaphor. How does it sit with you, thinking about whose stories get told, and whose are erased in conflict? Editor: I guess the size difference is just so dramatic, but it also highlights how conflict affects the young ones the most. Like, it doesn’t matter the size difference – it’s the destruction of innocence that prevails? Curator: Exactly! The setting – Ukraine, 2022 – and the figures point towards specific power dynamics, wouldn't you say? Banksy, as an anonymous figure, is commenting on the unequal power distribution where the “smaller” or more vulnerable party, fights against all odds. Think about it – what does it mean to represent a child as a symbol of resistance? Editor: It kind of makes you rethink the whole narrative of strength, doesn't it? Is he saying that in some cases a single act of resistance is more than powerful weapons and all? Curator: Precisely! The layering of the stencil art over the ruins invites us to confront uncomfortable realities, and challenge preconceived notions. So what does this all suggest about the power of art in zones of conflict? Editor: I think the artwork becomes an act of defiance in itself – a way of reclaiming space and telling stories that mainstream narratives might ignore. This was so eye-opening – to view artwork in the landscape of active politics really gives new meaning. Curator: Agreed. It makes me think of art as direct, active protest. It holds everyone responsible.