The Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors (MSWPS) has used its 113th annual Exhibition to show support for the Ukrainian community through a fundraising program featuring special Sunflower artworks.

Sunflowers – ‘soniashnyk’ in Ukrainian — have been grown in Ukraine since the mid-18th century. Throughout Ukraine’s history, the sunflower has been used as a symbol of peace.

The works exhibited are a symbol of support from artists of The Melbourne Society of Women Painters & Sculptors reflecting the support of the Australian community.

The Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors aims to provide help and encouragement to women artists and organises facilities for exhibiting their work. Lectures demonstrations, media workshops and regular life and portrait workshops are run by the Society to give members the opportunity to meet fellow artists and to work together.

The Society has a long and proud history as the oldest surviving women’s art group in Australia. Previously thought to have been founded in 1901, recent research indicates that the Society was begun in March 1902, by a group of former students from the Art School at the National Gallery of Victoria.

The war in Ukraine began in February when President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” to supposedly “demilitarise and “denazify” the country.

Missiles and airstrikes were launched across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, followed by a large ground invasion along multiple fronts.

Amid heavy losses and strong Ukrainian resistance surrounding Kyiv, Russia’s advance stalled in March, and by April its troops retreated.

By 13 May, a Ukraine counter-offensive had driven back Russian forces near Kharkiv.

The invasion has been internationally condemned as a war of aggression with the UN General Assembly demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces.

The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations and many countries imposed new sanctions on Russia while providing humanitarian and military support to Ukraine.

The destruction and loss of life has resulted in the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since the Second World War.

Over 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety elsewhere in the country or protection overseas. Entire cities and villages have been destroyed and more than 5,500 civilians have lost their lives, according to the United Nations.

Out of a total population of just over 40 million, seven million Ukrainians have had to move from their homes to other places inside Ukraine since the beginning of the war. And another 6.6 million Ukrainians are estimated to have fled the country, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

To see the full exhibition click here: https://mswps.com.au/sunflowersforukraine 

All Sunflower artwork sales will go 100 per cent to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal.

https://www.redcross.org.au/ukraine