Byriuchyi Island (Ukraine) ''. "Red carpet." Installation. 2013. . The Ukrainian initiative of the beginning of the 21st century was founded by the art production manager
Gennadiy Kozub and the artist ''''. In 2006, it was decided to declare
Zaporizhia Oblast to be an art territory. Byriuchyi Island (Zolotiy Bereg recreation centre), which is far away from civilization, was chosen to be the project residency. Artists came to Byriuchyi for two weeks in September. Since 2014, two-week gatherings have been held also in May. Biruchiy 009 holds an outdoor concert performed by the French cellist and composer
Dominique de Williencourt. Biruchiy M Sound Lab was launched at Biruchiy 012 (DJ Sokolov, DJ Mishukov, DJ Expert, '
/', DJ Derbastler). Within the framework of Biruchiy 013, for the first time not only paintings and art objects but also contemporary sculpture was created. During Biruchiy 014, it was decided to change its format by creating an experimental platform for several curators. Due to the hostilities, it was possible to hold only three out of six scheduled curator projects; they were later combined into one big project. In 2015, the Open Group carried out an international performative project "1000-km view." Riding a catamaran, the participants covered 1000-km distance of "Open Gallery Ukraine – the Netherlands" from the
Stryi River to Byriuchyi Island. The new project of Biruchiy was developed as collaboration between curator Irina Leifer (
Amsterdam) and Mariya Lanko and Lyzaveta German's team (
Kyiv), Open Art Route Zuidoost (Amsterdam) within Tandem Ukraine program (an initiative of the
European Cultural Foundation and German non-governmental organization
MitOst). In 2016, the main residence got modern exposition space. The final exposition of Biruchiy 016 was demonstrated in a new gallery designed like an ancient Greek temple. Its musical component has gained an independent format. An experimental ethno-electronic festival called Biruchiy Fest was held in September 16–18, 2016. Among participating bands and performers, there were '
, Sun Groove, ' and Dub Wire. The
British Council introduced an arts exchange program, called "SWAP: UK/Ukraine artist residence programme," between
United Kingdom and Ukraine; the first item of the program was on the residence on Byriuchyi Island. The British artist Jamie Fitzpatrick, chosen by the program, joined the participants. In September 2017, about 30 participants of the project organized a voluntary environmental initiative. The volunteers comprised artists from Ukraine,
Russia, Italy and
Germany, art critic, curators and guests of the residency. The volunteers cleaned up trash left by tourists, from a 10-km area of the seashore near the
Azov-Syvash National Nature Park (from '''' to Byriuchyi Island spit). The Coloring project, introduced in May 2018, brought together 60 artists. Each participant was given a coloring album with 12 outline views of the residency. Coloring pages project is designed as an interactive semi-finished product, which invites participants to put familiar landscapes in color not spending time on their layout.
RESÒ Lab (Italy) . In 2013, RESÒ Lab was initiated in collaboration with RESÒ, International Network for Artist Residencies and Educational Programs in
Piedmont (Italy). It is a long-term participant exchange project between Biruchiy and leading Italian art foundations. In RESÒ Lab residencies, artists for a few weeks get acquainted with the local art stage. The exchange is both bilateral and unilateral. In 2013, Byriuchyi Island was visited by
Sotheby's representatives, who purchased several painters' works. The residency was also visited by Massimo Melotti, an external relations specialist from
Castle of Rivoli museum of contemporary art (
Turin, Italy). In 2014, due to the war in Eastern Ukraine, RESÒ delayed Italian artists' coming to Byriuchyi Island. Nevertheless, in November 2014, '
, ' and the curator Sergiy Kantsedal invited by RESÒ, visited the residency of
Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto (
Biella, Italy). In autumn 2015, RESÒ sent to Byriuchyi Island a delegation of artists from Italy, headed by Massimo Melotti. Byriuchyi became the filming location for a film by Italian film directors '
, who arrived at the Island immediately after participating in Venice International Film Festival. One of the participants of Biruchiy 016 was the Italian film director and artist Giorgio Cugno. He shot here the fourth part of the film "XAU" with the actor ' in the lead role. The previous parts of the film were shot in
Colombia,
Egypt and the USA. In the autumn of 2017, the Italian artist Franco Ariaudo arrived in Byriuchyi Island. Elaborating upon the theme of the September residence "Running on water...," he started working on a long-term project titled "Basilisk," a set of events to study techniques of running on water. Franco Ariaudo proceeded with the Basilisk project already in Italy (Turin and
Rome) and published a limited edition book "Basilisk or how to run on water" in three languages (Italian, English and Russian). This is a rare case of a separate book dedicated to a single author's art project. In October–November 2017, members of Biruchiy project Alina Yakubenko and Oleksiy Say visited the residency Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto. Biruchiy 018 was held through the help of the
Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and the
Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Kyiv. The 13th season of the project centers around artistic comprehension of ritual practices of
neoshamanism. The event was visited by Cecilia Guida, PhD and Professor of the
Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna (
Bologna, Italy).
Irshansk (Ukraine) . On July 19, 2015, is the starting point of an art intervention of Biruchiy contemporary art project, which expanded the geography of its residence. The first art delegation was welcomed by
Irshansk (
Zhytomyr Oblast), where a two-week project "Irshansk. Recreation" was carried out. The exposition embraced the urban space and natural landscapes. The project is aimed at promoting cultural decentralization of the country: making the culture creating space go out beyond large centers, to medium-sized cities and small towns.
Klementowice (Poland) . On June 27, 2016, the geography of Biruchiy project extended to Poland. An offsite residence was created in
Klementowice,
Lublin Voivodeship, on the basis of the M. Ratay Complex of Agribusiness Schools. For 2 weeks, 14 artists creatively worked on the project "From the common root" (). Its concept is based on the metaphorical meaning of the word "root" (the fundamental principle, basic constituent of the structure) and it is an artistic response to manipulations in reconsidering the history of the two countries. The project was held under the patronage of the
Embassy of Ukraine in Poland. An educational event, called Biruchiy Art School, was held in Klementowice in January 2017 with the participation of students and young artists. The program included a series of lectures and practical work in workshops. The Polish land artist '''' visited the residence to give a lecture.
Flux Factory (USA) . In 2017, Biruchiy contemporary art project started cooperating with Flux Factory's artist-in-residence program (
Long Island City,
NYC). It is a platform, created in the 1990s by seven young
Brooklyn artists as an alternative to commercial galleries. Within the framework of an exchange program, a couple of artists, Mykyta Kravtsov and his wife, Camille Sagnes Kravtsova, came to New York City. After several months of work, their personal exhibition "Armageddon" was presented in the exhibition space of Flux Factory. In 2018, according to the exchange program between Flux Factory and Biruchiy project, Anton Lapov came to New York City. The artist realized the 3-hour radio walk "Queens Semantic Ghosts" and audiovisual performance "lap0fvw."
Gornji Morinj (Montenegro) . On June 17, 2019, an offsite residence started in the mountain town of '''', located in the
Bay of Kotor (the
Adriatic Sea). The project is a joint initiative of Biruchiy contemporary art project and the Exodus social club. During three weeks, 19 artists and art critics from 5 countries worked on the theme of Exodus. The concept is understood in its biblical meaning, "Exodus," the transition through challenges to a decent and harmonius life. The reporting exhibition supported by the
Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, was held in the halls of the
National Museum of Montenegro in
Cetinje. The opening took place with the participation of the
Embassy of Ukraine in Montenegro. 7 other artists from
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and
Serbia submitted their works for the exhibition. The event was largely covered by the country's leading broadcasting companies:
RTCG,
TV Vijesti,
Prva Srpska Televizija, TV 777,
Radio Television Cetinje.
Sharhorod (Ukraine) . On May 19–31, 2021, the Hava Nagila project () was implemented in the historic town of
Sharhorod, in
Vinnytsia Oblast. The event was attended by 17 artists. Different cultures, languages and traditions intersect in the town, creating a whimsical architectural weaving, which formed the basis of the concept. The video mapping was accompanied by a DJ set by the Kyiv musician Oleg Sokolov. The project took place on the territory of ''''.
Prymorsk (Ukraine) . On September 4, 2021, a project titled Time Not Lost started in
Prymorsk,
Zaporizhia Oblast (the historical name of the city is Nogaysk). For two weeks, 20 artists from Ukraine,
Belarus and
Spain worked on the territory of the Rayduga tourist complex. The project was devoted to understanding how time is lost and whether it is lost at all, and how a time loop works. A multimedia exhibition of the participants' works, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the city, was held on September 17, 2021, on the eve of the symposium closure.
Nyzhne Selyshche (Ukraine) . Despite the
Russian invasion of Ukraine and active hostilities, the residency took place in June 2022. "Biruchiy Transcarpathia 022. Art war" brought together 40 artists from 10 countries (Ukraine,
Italy,
USA,
Austria,
United Kingdom,
France,
Spain,
Czech Republic,
Denmark, and
Poland). The traditional location of the residency moved from the occupied Ukrainian south to '''',
Zakarpattia Oblast. The artists considered their mission to be about drawing the world's attention to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with all the inhuman cruelty of war crimes committed there. Exhibitions of the participants' works were held in
Oberhausen (Germany), and
Warsaw (Poland).
Andrzejów (Poland) . On May 3, 2023, a two-week project "Biruchiy Borowiec '433–447'" was initiated in the village of
Andrzejów,
Masovian Voivodeship. Artists from Ukraine, Poland, and the Czech Republic worked on the local context of the '
, reflecting on the common past of the countries, finding collective traumas, and fantasizing about their postwar future. "433-447" stands for the days of the full-scale war, during which the art residency was held. An exhibition based on the results of the project was held at the ' (
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland). In April–May 2024, a three-week "Lublin Triangle" () project brought together artists from
Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, three European countries with a shared history. The project was held under the patronage of the
Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland. The exhibition of the participants' works visited institutions in Kazimierz Dolny (Poland; Nadwiślańskie museum) and
Vilnius (Lithuania;
Vilnius Academy of Arts).
Nontron (France) . In April 13, 2024, the residency moved to France for 2 weeks, to the Montagenet estate near the town of
Nontron in the
Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, known for its artisan knife production. The name of the project is "Lima of Love." In
Morse code, the letter L is represented by the word "Lima;" it is also a military term for a frontier. Thus, the name stands for "Frontier of Love." The project was supported by the
Académie des Beaux-Arts and the Experimental Pole of Arts and Crafts of Nontron. ==Ukrainian wartime posters==