HABITUS Exhibition Opens in Bruges
On 15 November 2025, in the historic Garemijn Hall of the city of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the exhibition HABITUS was officially opened with the participation of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr Yaroslav Melnyk. The event is held within the framework of the Ukrainian Culture Week in Belgium.
The project presents works by seven leading Ukrainian artists – Oleg Tistol, Mykola Matsenko, Maryna Skugareva, Andrii Zelinskyi, Dmytro Shevchenko, Vinnie Reunov and Yana Bystrova – exploring themes of identity, resilience and unique forms of human self-organization in times of profound transformation.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Yaroslav Melnyk stated: “While Ukrainian soldiers defend our land and the values we share with Europe, Ukrainian culture continues to stand firm and create meaning even in the face of brutal russian aggression. The presence of our friends and partners at today’s event is a gesture of solidarity that gives strength to millions of Ukrainians.”
The Embassy of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to the City of Bruges, in particular to Mr Mayor Dirk De fauw, as well as to the residents of the city for their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and support for Ukrainians who have found safety in Bruges.
Special thanks are extended to Ms Svitlana Lebiga, President of the Cultural Center of Ukraine in Belgium and founder of the Ukrainian Culture Week, whose tireless work and consistently high-quality projects over more than a decade continue to strengthen Ukrainian cultural diplomacy in Belgium.
The Embassy also thanks curators Vitalii Adlermann and Kateryna Ray for their profound artistic vision and dedicated efforts in promoting Ukrainian culture. The project has been realised with the support of the AIDA Foundation, the Vivid Fusion Foundation and the Embassy of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium.
The Embassy invites all guests and residents of Bruges to visit the exhibition, which will remain open until 21 November 2025, and to discover the voices and perspectives of contemporary Ukrainian artists.