A ceramic jug in the form of a cockerel that was presented to the Prime Minister in Kyiv has been shown to participants at the Edinburgh International Culture Summit.
The jug, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, is being exhibited at the biannual event to express the continuous worldwide solidarity with Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s unlawful invasion.
In April, a woman presented the Prime Minister and Volodymyr Zelensky with a pair of matching jugs as they strolled through the streets of Kharkiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Photographer Elizaveta Servatynska got a picture of a similar jug resting unharmed on a kitchen cabinet in a high-rise apartment building in March. This image became symbolic of Ukraine’s robust resistance against the invading Russian soldiers. The structure at Borodyanka has been severely damaged by Russian airstrikes.
In Ukrainian mythology, crows are thought to possess protective qualities. The picture of the intact jug immediately became a symbol of the country’s resistance against the Russian invaders as it went viral on social media.
The jug that was presented to the Prime Minister is now on exhibit at the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, where it is viewable to attendees.
Arts Minister Lord Parkinson said:
“As we meet in Edinburgh, this jug will serve as a powerful reminder of Ukraine’s unflagging strength and resistance in the face of Russia’s barbaric invasion.
“The Ukrainian people and the preservation of their unique cultural identity will be at the forefront of our minds as ministers and cultural leaders from around the world meet to discuss international cultural collaboration.”
Valerii and Nadiia Protoriev of Vasylkiv, a city close to Kyiv, were renowned ceramists in the 1960s. The glazed earthenware jugs created by a Vasylkix factory during the Soviet period are examples of majolica ceramics.
Attending the biannual Edinburgh International Culture Summit are international politicians, artists, and cultural leaders. It strives to encourage cultural and creative interchange internationally. This year’s event will be attended by delegates from nations all around the globe.
Due to Russia’s invasion, this year’s summit will place a special emphasis on Ukraine via debates on culture and freedom. The Ukrainian Institute and British Council are also hosting a unique Culture Leadership Dialogue event to create relationships between the cultural sectors of the United Kingdom and Ukraine in response to the continuing conflict’s concerns.
Lord Parkinson, minister of the arts, will represent the British government at the summit.
The Government Art Collection (DCMS) aided in the presentation of the jug and arranged the loan between the Prime Minister and Scottish Parliament Building.