Fragile Brutalism. Notions of home and loss in times of war and peace

"Fragile Brutalism. Notions of home and loss in times of war and peace" is a collaboration between SERIA__, initiated by artists Dasha Podoltseva and Elena Orap, the London Borough of Hackney, and Johannes Novy on the occasion of the London Festival of Architecture. It consists of an exhibition by Dasha Podoltseva and Elena Orap about the Ukrainian modernist prefabricated buildings known as "panelki", whose destruction has become a haunting symbol of the brutality endured by civilians in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and two public events. One looking at the history, state and fate of post-WWII modernist social housing in Britain and Ukraine, and the other exploring the precious yet also precarious nature of home, inviting reflection on what "home" means, what it means to be faced with the reality or threat of its loss, and what we share and where we diverge in terms of our understandings of it.

Dozens of guests, including the Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville, as well as many Ukrainians, took part in the events, which - while addressing the sobering situation in Ukraine - also aimed to celebrate Ukrainian culture and creativity in a variety of ways, including a film screening, a Ukrainian DJ and Ukrainian food.

In addition to the main exhibition at the premises of Stephen Taylor Architects on London's iconic De Beauvoir Estate, SERIA_'s work is also on display on a billboard provided by Jack Arts on Kingsland Road and, thanks to the kind support of MAPP properties, at 160 Old Street throughout June 2023.