For the first time, an organ concert took place at the Lviv railway station.

On Friday, November 22, an organ concert took place at the main railway station in Lviv, marking the first event of the art installation program "Instrument" by Kyiv artist Zhanna Kadyrova. The artist placed fragments of Russian missiles, which fell in the Kyiv region, on the pipes of the organ. The installation will remain at the station until January 19, during which time musicians will perform nine concerts that everyone can attend for free.

The first organ concert in the ticket hall of the station was performed by musician Olesya Borsuk. The event was attended by military personnel and veterans undergoing rehabilitation in Lviv. The author of the installation, artist Zhanna Kadyrova, told ZAXID.NET that the organ was made in the 19th century.

“Today we are launching the first project of a large program initiated by the RIBBON foundation, which supports contemporary art, in collaboration with "Ukrzaliznytsia". Our project "Instrument" in a public space is like a first swallow. This is an original organ to which I added Russian shells and rockets that exploded in the Kyiv region. The work was exhibited in Venice for three months and now we have the premiere in Ukraine. The instrument was created abroad,” said Zhanna Kadyrova.

The organ has been installed at a railway station in Ukraine for the first time. Photo ZAXID.NET

Zhanna Kadyrova shared that the organ, now located at the station, previously stood in a church in northern Germany. It was completely converted to electric in the Czech Republic.

The organ will remain at the Lviv station until January 19, 2025. During this time, nine concerts will take place. According to Zhanna Kadyrova, both Ukrainian performers and international musicians from Georgia, Norway, and Sweden will perform. Musicians will play original works, prepare a Christmas program, and present a concert of 15th-century baroque music. There will be two concerts each week, and when no one is playing the organ, recordings of concerts will be played through the speakers.

All interested parties can attend the performances for free. Evening concerts will be held every Friday, while morning concerts will take place every Wednesday. The concert schedule will be announced on the "Ukrzaliznytsia" pages.

“When we were choosing which city to bring the organ to, we thought that many people travel abroad and return to Ukraine through Lviv station. Lviv has traditions related to Catholicism. Although organists often scold me for linking the organ exclusively to the Catholic context, that is not the case. However, I felt that the instrument would be more organic here than in Kharkiv. We are showing that we live during a war and continue to create and support each other,” said Zhanna Kadyrova.

Organ concert at the railway station in Lviv, November 22. Photo ZAXID.NET

Additionally, 43-year-old Kyiv artist Zhanna Kadyrova works in the site specific style. Her exhibitions have taken place in Vienna, Paris, Monaco, Budapest, São Paulo, Davos, New York, Miami, and more. The artist has received the Kazimir Malevich Award and the National Prize from PinchukArtCentre.

From 2017 to 2020, Zhanna Kadyrova worked on the artistic project Market, during which she created food sculptures from construction materials. The project was presented at the 58th Venice Biennale. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the artist has been selling her works and donating the funds to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zhanna Kadyrova has managed to transfer over 9 million UAH to the military.