[Interview] Amid war at home, musician brings Ukrainian culture to the world

On Monday evening, a pianist dressed in traditional Ukrainian garb performed a piece by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk at the Goethe-Institut Korea in Seoul. The concert was organized by the EU Delegation to Korea to celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day. The event featured a Ukrainian artist's sculpture of a wounded bird, accompanied by an emotional performance.

Taras Filenko, the pianist, is a former associate dean of conducting and voice at the Ukrainian National Academy of Music in Kyiv, who left his teaching post after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Filenko has given over 100 performances, introducing Ukrainian culture to global audiences. He spends 80% of his preparation time selecting cultural artifacts and lectures to accompany his performances.

Filenko believes that music should be presented in its cultural context, emphasizing emotional connections between the audience and the pieces. He also aims to draw parallels between Ukrainian and other cultures, particularly Korean, to make Ukrainian traditions more accessible. Filenko's dedication to cultural communication stems from the belief that culture is a nation's backbone.

In Ukraine, traditional cultural expressions were suppressed under Russian rule for centuries, making the oral tradition even more crucial. The war has intensified the urgency of preserving Ukrainian culture, as Russian-occupied territories exhibit cultural repression, including bans on Ukrainian and restrictions on traditional dress.

Filenko is concerned about "cultural theft" in these areas, where students are taught Ukrainian art is Russian. He expressed concern over Russia's appropriation of Ukrainian national hero Taras Shevchenko, highlighting the war's role as a struggle against the destruction of Ukrainian culture. Despite the war's challenges, Ukrainian art continues to thrive in cities like Kyiv and Odesa, becoming a source of courage and identity.