Kharkiv Residency Slovo:Art and Architecture Under Fire in Ukraine
A discussion about ‘What Shall We Do With These Buildings’ . The documentary film made in Kharkiv, Ukraine, last autumn, by Jonathan Ben-Shaul, and produced by Mykola Naboka who performs in the production, explores the city’s unique cultural context and how it came to an abrupt end when Russia invaded Ukraine.
‘What Shall We Do With These Buildings?’ is a documentary-dance film exploring the legacy of Soviet architecture in Kharkiv, Ukraine. It was shot back in September 2021, as part of Slovo Residency Kharkiv. Since then, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and Kharkiv is now being shelled. As such, the film’s examination of the subtler cultural memory of Russian domination in Kharkiv has taken on a new meaning. Now, it serves as a snapshot of an independent, hopeful Ukraine trying to find its feet, at a time when that independence has never been more fragile.
In the period of 2014-2022, following the Euromaidan protests, Ukraine experienced a major cultural revival. During this time Kharkiv was on a journey to re-discover its magnificent architectural and literary legacy. This talk will reflect on this unique cultural context, how it was felt when making the film and how it came to an abrupt halt when Russia invaded.
The aim of this talk is engage with and extend understanding of these profound intersecting issues, and to support Ben-Shaul and Naboka in their continued efforts to raise money for Help Kharkiv, a group of volunteers who provide humanitarian aid and help evacuate civilians from Kharkiv, where the film was shot. Donations can be made directly via the Kharvik website: @ and Residency Slovo: @lovo
Jonathan Ben-Shaul is a theatre and movement director from London, UK. He studied at the University of Cambridge and at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq (promo 2019-21). He was Kharkiv Residency Slovo’s first international resident. During his two month stay in Kharkiv he taught movement and made ‘What Shall We Do With These Buildings ‘,a documentary-dance film exploring the legacy of Soviet architecture in Kharkiv. Now, he runs community arts engagement projects in Peterborough and in Burgundy. Mykola Naboka is an actor and a cultural manager from Kharkiv, Ukraine. He studied at L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq (2019-21). After finishing his studies, he returned to Ukraine where he helped organise Slovo Residency Kharkiv and taught movement at the Kharkiv School of Architecture. He produced and performed in ‘What Shall We Do With These Buildings’. Since the invasion, Mykola has fled to Lviv where he continues to work.