As the Russian invasion continues, with the intention, it seems, of erasing Ukraine from the map, an exhibition in Chicago recalls a 19th-century poet and painter who put himself in danger by writing of Russian oppression and his dream of independence for his country, forcing him to spend years in exile.

Immersive Shevchenko: Soul of Ukraine aims to be an introduction to someone considered one of that country’s greatest poets and visual artists. Taras Shevchenko was born in 1814 to a family in serfdom, from which he was finally freed at age 24 when a fellow artist, recognising his talent, sold his own paintings to buy Shevchenko’s freedom.

The show, produced by Valeriy Kostyuk, a Toronto-based, York University-trained artist, projects giant animated images of Shevchenko and his work onto the walls of Lighthouse ArtSpace, just north of Chicago city centre. It’s part of a series of similar shows which includes artists Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo.

“One hundred and sixty years have passed since Shevchenko’s death, and all of his ideas, all of his urges to break out of slavery, to continue pushing Ukrainian ideas, the idea of an independent Ukrainian state — we’re still fighting for those today,” Kostyuk said during a preview that also featured a young girl in traditional Ukrainian dress singing that country’s national anthem.

“We wanted to demonstrate the emotions that he was experiencing through his lifetime. So here you’ll see some comic elements, some elements of love, some elements of struggle and hate,” Kostyuk said.

Many of the works featured were on display in Ukraine, but were boxed up and evacuated as Russian bombs began to fall in February, Kostyuk said. The paintings were put in the same crates used to protect the paintings when the Nazis invaded. “This truly shows how history repeats itself,” Kostyuk is quoted as saying.

The 15-minute-long show was intended as a one-day fundraiser, but its popularity has led to a second show being planned for April 8. The exhibition is being displayed in six US cities. 

All ticket sales proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Humanitarian Crisis Appeal Fund to Benefit Ukraine and National Bank of Ukraine Fund.