"Under Broken Skies" Exhibition at the Baukunstarchiv NRW

"Under Broken Skies" Exhibition at the Baukunstarchiv NRW

From June 26 through August 9, 2026, the Baukunstarchiv NRW in Dortmund is hosting the photo exhibition “Under Broken Skies: Ukrainian-German Cultural Heritage on the Front Line.”

The exhibition focuses on the endangerment and destruction of the shared Ukrainian-German cultural heritage as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The focus is on historic sites in the south and east of the country where German communities have lived since the 18th century and whose architectural heritage is now damaged or threatened.

On display are photographs from the war-affected regions of Ukraine, including images from the areas around Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, supplemented by archival material from the collections of the Museum of Russian-German Cultural History in Detmold. The contemporary photographs are from the Wiki Loves Monuments Ukraine 2023 competition and powerfully document the war’s impact on the local built environment.

The exhibition is complemented by maps, informational panels, and excerpts from the essay “Bloodland Memorial, ” which provide insights into the region’s historical and current situation. An accompanying exhibition catalog delves deeper into the context of the photographs on display and highlights the close connection between Ukrainian and German history.

Curated by Irina Unruh, the exhibition invites visitors to engage with historical interconnections, the culture of remembrance, and current issues of cultural preservation. At the same time, it raises awareness of the significance of architecture and built heritage as vessels of collective memory and of our shared responsibility for their preservation.

The Dortmund presentation is being realized in cooperation with the Cultural Department for Russian-Germans at the Museum of Russian-German Cultural History, the DEPART Association, the Council of Germans in Ukraine, the Baukunstarchiv NRW, Dortmund University of Technology, and the Liaison Office for Eastern Europe/Central Asia of the Ruhr University Alliance.

Through its commitment, the Liaison Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (OEZA) of the Ruhr University Alliance supports academic and social exchange with Eastern Europe and fosters dialogue on the culture of remembrance, cultural heritage, and current developments in the region.

Location: Baukunstarchiv NRW, Ostwall 7, Dortmund
Dates: June 26 through August 9, 2026
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 2:00–5:00 p.m. (closed Mondays)