Icons on Ammo Boxes

Transforming Death into Life

This innovative project is a joint of two Kyivan artists and spouses, Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, and the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PFVMH), an NGO that engages civilian medics to provide medical aid to both militants and civilians in the armed conflict areas in Eastern Ukraine.

The main idea of the art project is the transformation of death (symbolized by ammo boxes) into life (traditionally symbolized by icons in Ukrainian culture). The receipts from the icons sale go the PFVMH to support activities of its volunteer medics.

The artists paint the icons on the lids, bottoms, and other fragments of wooden boxes that used to store various types of ammunition and weaponry. The boards are brought from the combat zone by PFVMH volunteers as well as servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guards of Ukraine.

The icons have been exhibited in a number of locations across the UK and have attracted a lot of interest and sales which have included a purchase of an icon by King Charles.

The icons will be on display in the Catholic Chapel at Traquair House from Saturday 16th August – Thursday 25th September *. Icons and prints will be available for sale during this time.

Free entry for Season Pass holders or included in your grounds ticket. Buy Day Tickets 

* Traquair House & Grounds closed Fridays in September.