The Ukrainian House National Center and the National Bank of Ukraine are presenting their exhibition project “The Hryvnia. More than Money.”
The project is being implemented in cooperation between the Ukrainian House and the National Bank of Ukraine.
The exhibition will present the multifaceted essence of the Ukrainian currency: its symbolic, historical and artistic aspects. The hryvnia is not only a monetary unit, but also a reflection of the stages of formation of the Ukrainian nation, political transformations, and continuous cultural dialogue between generations.
Just like the state symbols – the Ukrainian coat of arms, flag, and anthem – the Ukrainian currency is an integral part of state sovereignty, a carrier of historical memory and identity. The hryvnia symbolizes the unbreakable link between the past, present and future of Ukraine.
“Today, Ukrainians very much want to understand themselves and to find the foundations of their identity,” said director of the Ukrainian House Olha Viieru. “The exhibition intertwines several important contexts that are always in the focus of the Ukrainian House’s attention: culture, history, and art. The hryvnia is the voice of epochs, a symbol of statehood. It is like a political and aesthetic manifesto that shows what is important, meaningful, and beautiful to Ukrainians. We are inspired by the idea of exploring, together with the National Bank of Ukraine, the path of the hryvnia, which actually tells us about ourselves.”
“For almost three centuries, the hryvnia has been an important attribute of Ukraine’s independence, a vivid cultural phenomenon and a unifying symbol for all Ukrainians,” said NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyy. “We have combined the knowledge, competencies, and creative vision of the NBU and Ukrainian House teams to show visitors truly unique artifacts and works of art that reflect on the phenomenon of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the historical events that accompany its life, and have made people think about the future of Ukrainian money. Come to the Ukrainian House with your family, friends, and colleagues starting 28 March to take a fresh look at the hryvnia you hold in your hands every day.”
The evolution of the Ukrainian currency can be traced from its origins in Kyivan Rus to the appearance of banknotes of the Ukrainian People's Republic and then to the revival of the hryvnia in the times of independence. Each banknote and coin captures the spirit of its era, preserving the imprint of the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom. This is history captured in design, colors, and images.
The appearance of Ukrainian money has changed over time, reflecting social trends and being enriched by new styles and technologies. The hryvnia will tell us what is valuable to us, whose names we should remember, whose voices we should listen to, who we are, and who we want to be tomorrow.
The exhibition will start on 28 March and run until 11 May 2025. It will be held at the Ukrainian House National Center (Kyiv, 2 Khreshchatyk Street).
The exhibition will feature sketch designs for Ukrainian money by prominent artists, such as Oleksandr Bohomazov, Heorhii Narbut, Vasyl Krychevskyi, Mykhailo Boichuk, Myron Yatsiv, and Vasyl Lopata.
The exhibition will include archival materials, artifacts, and works of art that reflect historical events. The represented authors include Yuliana Alimova, Mykola Aleksieiev, Mykhailo Alekseienko, Teresa Barabash, Mykola Bytynskyi, Oleksandr Bohomazov, Mykhailo Boichuk, Mykola Butovych, Sviatoslav Hordyi, Alla Horska, Mykhailo Derehus, Oleksandr Dubovyk, Oleksandr Zhyvotkov, Ivan-Valentyn Zadorozhnyi, Hryhorii Zolotov, Alevtyna Kakhidze, Mykola Kasperovych, Ihor Klavko, the Pictoric Illustrator Club, Ihor Kovalevych, Volodymyr Kostyrko, Oleksii Krasovskyi, Vasyl Krychevskyi, Fedir Krychevskyi, Olha Kuziura, Veniamin Kushnir, Yefrem Lukatskyi, Vasyl Lopata, Roman Minin, Mykhailo Mykhalevych, Ivan Mozalevskyi, Heorhii Narbut, Sofia Nalepynska-Boichuk, Serhii Nechyporenko, Pasha Open, Dasha Podoltseva, Antin Prykhodko, Vinni Reunov, Borys Romanovskyi, Halyna Sevruk, Liudmyla Semykina, Anton Sereda, Ivan Svitlychnyi, Rustem Skybin, Oleksandr Sukholit, Oleh Tistol, Neil Hasevych, Vasyl Chebanyk, Vitalii Shostia, and Myron Yatsiv.
Exhibition organizers: the Ukrainian House and the National Bank of Ukraine.
Curatorial team: Tatiana Voloshyna, Alisa Hryshanova, Oleksii Ananov.
In cooperation with the Money Museum of the National Bank of Ukraine: Director Denys Tolochko, Chief Custodian Andrii Boiko-Haharin.
Scientific advisors: Bohdan Zavitii, Vladyslav Bezpalko, Danuta Posatska, Zinaida Zraziuk, Nataliia Matsenko, and Mykola Bendiuk.
The project is being implemented in cooperation with the State Archival Service of Ukraine, the Central State Archive of the Higher Authorities and Administration of Ukraine, and the Platform of Cultural Initiatives NGO.
Project partners: Oschadbank, PrivatBank, TASKOMBANK, UKRSIBBANK, and Visa.
Technical partners: Ajax Systems, ERGO, Caparol Ukraine.
Educational partners: the Talan Financial Knowledge Center, Minor Academy of Sciences of Ukraine National Center, Staryi Lev Publishing House, and the DumaiRum Scientific and Educational Club.