Appropriation and blind spots. Ukraine cultural heritage in conflict

Editorial

Abstract

The special issue of kunsttexte.de/ostblick Appropriation and blind spots. Ukraine cultural heritage in conflict is part of the ongoing discussions provoked by the Russia's attack on Ukraine. The focus of the contribuions in this issue is not on current challenges, debates and claims, but on how cultural heritage has been discursively, medially and conceptually constituted, appropriated or negated in Ukraine’s past. The theoretical starting point is the assumption that cultural heritage is always the result of appropriation processes and is therefore subject to constant negotiation processes – be it discursive, institutional, political etc. This means that on the other side of appropriation are revaluations, marginalisation, repression and deliberate denial.