Boyarka City Council culture department advocates preserving mosaic on Prestige Lyceum facade

The Boyarka City Council's Department of Culture, Youth, and Sports has expressed opposition to covering or removing the mosaic from the facade of Boyarka Academic Lyceum Prestige during the insulation process. In July, the city council initiated a contest to design a new facade for the lyceum, proposing to dismantle the existing mosaic during insulation and allowing local residents to vote on a replacement finish. The mosaic, titled "Lace of Sounds," was created by Ukrainian artist Vasyl Khymochka in 1985.

In late August, the city council announced the end of the public vote, declaring that the option to recreate an artwork on the building facade that precisely copies the original mosaic image received the most support. The department emphasizes that thermal modernization works involve insulating external walls and constructing a new facade, with funds allocated for this purpose intended solely to enhance energy efficiency, ensuring warmer premises, reduced energy losses, and improved conditions for students and educators.

While the city council acknowledges the necessity of thermal modernization for educational institutions to guarantee student comfort, they argue that infrastructure projects should not be carried out at the expense of preserving cultural heritage. The department stresses that the mosaic does not contain elements of Soviet propaganda, is not subject to the law 'On the Condemnation of the Communist and National Socialist (Nazi) Totalitarian Regimes in Ukraine and the Prohibition of Propaganda of Their Symbols', and possesses undeniable artistic value.

They firmly oppose creating a mural copy instead of preserving the original smalt, deeming this approach unacceptable in a civilized society.

The Boyarka City Council's Department of Culture, Youth, and Sports calls for a review of the facade work project concerning the Prestige Lyceum building, where the mosaic is located. They urge the consideration of the results of the public survey, taking into account the community's genuine demand to preserve the original mosaic rather than replacing it with a painted copy.

Additionally, the department proposes establishing a working group comprising architects, restorers, and engineers to explore alternative technical solutions that would enable the building's energy modernization while safeguarding the mosaic panel.