In Memoriam Davyd Chychkan (1986-2025)
With deep sorrow, M HKA bids farewell to Davyd Chychkan, Ukrainian artist, activist and soldier. He died on 9 August 2025 from a severe injury sustained while repelling a Russian infantry assault at the front in Zaporizhzhia oblast. In 2024, he had volunteered to join the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Chychkan believed that Ukrainian identity was inseparable from progressive, emancipatory values. In his work he invoked historical figures such as Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, wove in folkloric traditions, and redefined the national colours. Alongside blue and yellow, he gave new meaning to black (anti-authoritarianism), purple (feminism and cultural progress) and red (social equality and direct democracy).
“Davyd Chychkan’s work reminds us that art does not stand apart from the world, but is at its very heart. His images fuse aesthetics with commitment, showing how identity, emancipation and the struggle for freedom come together in art. With this tribute, M HKA not only mourns a great loss, but also affirms the power of art as a space for dialogue, hope and social imagination.”
Bart De Baere, Director M HKA
His visual language was sharp, direct, and often directed towards the public realm. Posters and small prints circulated on the streets rather than in galleries. In 2022, M HKA acquired his exhibition in Lviv, which had just been forced to close under pressure from far-right groups when the full-scale invasion began. A selection was included in the exhibition Imagine Ukraine.
In recent years, Chychkan focused on the role of volunteers in the war. In doing so, he made clear that it was not only far-right militias, but also artists, feminists and left-wing activists who were fighting for freedom and democracy. His work testifies to their sacrifice and highlights the diversity of voices in Ukraine.
With his untimely death, Ukraine loses a powerful artistic and social voice. Yet his oeuvre continues to resonate as a testament to resistance, emancipation and hope.
M HKA extends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
