The exhibition consists of 16 photographs from the Euromaidan, The Day learned from the head of Lviv National University’s press center Tetiana Shemberko, who added that the university began on February 10 a month-long preparation campaign for the 200th birth anniversary of the Bard of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko. In particular, they have placed a banner with the slogan “Struggle, and ye shall overcome the foe!” quoting Shevchenko’s The Caucasus, and Euromaidan symbols on the front of the main building, while the Shevchenko auditorium had the bust of the poet clad in an embroidered shirt.
Activists from the philology department were behind creation of the exhibition called “I Will Fight... God Is With Me... Let His Will Be Done!” (again quoting Shevchenko’s poem, this time The Heretic). Each displayed photo is supported by some particularly relevant lines from Shevchenko’s Kobzar. According to the organizers, the words “The ugly, graceless progeny / Of our great ancestors” from Shevchenko’s My Friendly Epistle are sounding in a special way when put next to the photo of a riot police detachment, similarly to the call “Come to your senses! Human be” from the same poem when put next to the photo of a priest, who calms outraged protesters while himself being tracked by riot police riflemen. “Shevchenko has always been the inspiration for conscious Ukrainian, and his work, being an illustration of the continuing struggle for freedom in hard times, has been lifting spirits and bringing faith,” the coordinator of student events, student of the philology department Oleh Voitkiv said.
Tunes of songs using Shevchenko’s lyrics are being played at the university daily, as part of the Shevchenko anniversary events, and a manifestation of Independence, Free Thought, and Hope.
