Ashes of Heritage

Installation by Svitlana Lushnikova

Venue: Palazzo Zattere, Venice
Presented by: V-A-C Foundation
Dates: 13 August – 23 September 2021

Ashes of Heritage by Svitlana Lushnikova was exhibited at the historic Palazzo Zattere in Venice, offering a profound reflection on the fragility and resilience of cultural traditions. Organised by the V-A-C Foundation, this installation ran from 13 August to 23 September 2021 and explored how heritage endures in the face of conflict and destruction.

At the heart of this exhibition were nalychnyky—traditional wooden window frames, intricately carved and central to Slavic folk architecture. For this installation, Lushnikova employed the Shou Sugi Ban technique, burning the surface of the wood to preserve it. The resulting blackened nalychnyky served as powerful metaphors: the charred wood evoked the cultural erosion wrought by war, while the preserved carvings symbolised the enduring strength of tradition, even in the face of destruction.

Lushnikova’s practice bridges ancient craftsmanship and contemporary sculpture, engaging with themes of memory, identity, and survival. Set against the timeless architecture of Venice, the installation created a visual dialogue between two distinct cultural histories. The burned frames, marked by fire but still standing, conveyed the tenacity of Slavic heritage—a poignant reminder that even when traditions are scarred, they do not disappear.

This exhibition encouraged visitors to reflect on the beauty and vulnerability of cultural heritage. Lushnikova’s work reminds us that even in the face of modern conflict, tradition persists as a resilient force, capable of transformation but never erasure.

Ashes of Heritage was free and open to the public, inviting visitors to engage with this conversation on art, history, and survival within the evocative setting of Palazzo Zattere.

For more information, please visit the official website of the V-A-C Foundation.