Contemporary Ukrainian Art in Japan: COLOROPERA by Alevtina Kakhidze as Part of a Cultural Dialogue Between Ukraine and Japan
With the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the Spilne Art platform, in partnership with Tokarev Foundation, implemented a large-scale cultural program in Japan that brought together exhibition, discussion, and educational formats across Tokyo, Kobe, and Osaka. The central event of the program was the presentation of COLOROPERA, an immersive installation by Ukrainian artist Alevtina Kakhidze — a project that transforms testimonies from wartime Ukraine into a synesthetic experience of sound, color, and light.
COLOROPERA emerged during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The project is based on approximately 60 conversations conducted by the artist with soldiers, civilians, internally displaced children, and fellow artists. Participants shared how war sounds to them and which colors they associate with those sounds. These testimonies became the foundation of a 360-degree installation structured in four chapters: visions of the future, civilian experiences, military perspectives, and the image of victory.
The project combines documentary recordings, eyewitness voices, music, a libretto, as well as light and video elements created from the participants’ individual color associations. Within this space, sound transforms into color, while personal stories merge into a collective experience where pain and hope coexist.
The installation was developed with the support of S+T+ARTS and was first presented at BASE Milano in 2025.
«Culture is the way societies reveal their truth to the world. COLOROPERA communicates the experiences of Ukrainians through art. It invites Japanese audiences to feel, reflect, and establish an emotional connection, creating a shared space for mutual understanding», says Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine and Minister of Culture of Ukraine.
«The compositional structure of the work begins with the section “Future of Ukraine,” after which the viewer passes through past experiences and gradually approaches a vision of victory», explains Alevtina Kakhidze.
In August, Spilne Art will open Alevtina Kakhidze’s solo exhibition, with COLOROPERA serving as its central work.
The program in Japan included several cities and formats:
Tokyo
- April 26, 2026 — Presentation of COLOROPERA as part of Tech for Impact Summit 2026 (Kioi Conference)
- April 27 — Public discussion «Resilience, Culture and Europe: Ukraine’s Future in Dialogue with Japan» at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan
Kobe
- April 29 — Discussion «Resilience, Art and the Future: A Ukraine–Japan Dialogue» at Kobe Gakuin University
Osaka
- April 30 – May 4 — VR presentation and public program at The Lab, Knowledge Capital Osaka
The program took place during Golden Week and engaged a broad audience, ranging from professional communities to the general public.
