In absentia

Kunstverein Hannover presents the first solo exhibition of artist duo Roman Khimei (b. 1992) and Yarema Malashchuk (b. 1993).

Collaborating since 2016, they have gained recognition for short films and installations exploring marginal figures against imperialist mythologies. As part of Prykarpattian Theatre, they contributed to “Theater of Hopes and Expectations” in Ukraine’s 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale pavilion.

In “Explosions Near The Museum” (2023), they document the aftermath of Kherson’s de-occupation, revealing the absence of 173,000 looted antiquities. The work reconstructs lost artefacts through voiceovers and descriptions, set against real missile strikes.

At Biennale di Venezia 2024, their multi-screen installation “You Shouldn’t Have to See This” (2024) depicts rooms with sleeping children who returned home after Russian abduction.

Alongside two recent films, a newly commissioned work uses semi-fictional scenarios to reflect Ukraine’s grim reality after 1,000 days of war.