Resistance to Cruelty that Never Ends: An Afghan and Ukrainian Intercultural Art Exhibit Opens at the Indy Art Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: André Guima

Patchwork Indy

andre@patchworkindy.org

March 31, 2025

Indianapolis, IN – Patchwork Indy and the Indy Art Center, in collaboration with the Afghan American Community Center and Ukrainian Society of Indiana, are honored to present Resistance to Cruelty that Never Ends, a groundbreaking intercultural art exhibit featuring the works of Ukrainian multimedia artist Iryna Bondar and Afghan oil painter Abdul Qahar Behzad. This powerful exhibition will be on display from March 25th to May 23rd, with an opening reception on Friday, April 11th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Indy Art Center.

Every day from 12:30-12:40 PM for the duration of the exhibit, Iryna Bondar will embroider the current number of days since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in an act of mourning for her family and compatriots that were lost and hope for the safe return of those still in the fight.

Bringing together the visual narratives of two cultures deeply affected by war, colonization, and resilience, Resistance to Cruelty that Never Ends offers a compelling dialogue on perseverance, identity, and artistic defiance in the face of oppression.

Through a blend of contemporary illustration, hand-crafted kites, traditional Ukrainian embroidery, and the traveling mural for Afghanistan, Bondar and Behzad provide audiences with an intimate look into their cultural histories and personal artistic journeys. Bondar, whose work reflects on decolonization and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, continues her ritual of embroidering the number of days since russia’s full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, Behzad’s richly detailed oil paintings depict Afghanistan’s millennia-old heritage and the struggles of its people.

The Indy Art Center is at 820 E. 67th St., Indianapolis.

Admission to the Art Center is always free, and it is open seven days a week: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday noon-6 p.m. Artwork will be for sale.

Opening Reception & Community Events

• Opening Reception: Friday, April 11 | 5:00 – 8:00 PM – Join us for an evening of art, conversation, and community. Light refreshments will be served.

• Afghan Community Conversation: Sunday, April 27 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Hosted by the Afghan American Community Center.

• Ukrainian Community Conversation: Thursday, May 8 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Hosted by the Ukrainian Society of Indiana.

• Artist Talk (TBD): A special discussion with Iryna Bondar and Abdul Qahar Behzad, exploring their artistic inspirations and personal experiences.

  
  

This exhibition, hosted in collaboration with Patchwork Indy, highlights the vital role of art in preserving history and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

About the Artists

Iryna Bondar (Ukraine) is a multimedia artist whose works incorporate illustration and embroidery to explore themes of cultural heritage, resistance, and decolonization.

Abdul Qahar Behzad (Afghanistan) is a self-taught oil painter dedicated to portraying Afghanistan’s history, culture, and resilience, shaped by his experiences working with international military forces and teaching art.

Partner Organizations & Hosts

Patchwork Indy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting and empowering diverse organizations and communities to create a social fabric of holistic support that benefits all.

The Indy Art Center, where it’s always Everybody’s Art, is a nonprofit organization that annually offers hundreds of classes and camps, more than 20 art exhibitions, community programs that take art into underserved communities, and the OneAmerica FinancialSM Broad Ripple Art Fair. Its main campus is in Broad Ripple, along the banks of the White River and steps from the Monon Trail, and features a building designed by world-renowned architect and Indianapolis native Michael Graves and Indianapolis’ original ARTSPARK, an outdoor creativity and sculpture garden and green space with trails. It also operates the Fishers Art Center, which opened in 2024. IndyArtCenter.org

The Ukrainian Society of Indiana serves Ukrainian Hoosiers and friends of Ukraine through cultural, educational, and civic projects. We are dedicated to preserving and celebrating Ukrainian traditions; teaching our community about all aspects of Ukrainian culture; and forging connections between Indiana and Ukraine.

The Afghan American Community Center is a non-profit organization founded in 2022 as a place of community, collaboration, connection and education for Afghans who fled terror in their own country and came to America with hardly anything but hopes and dreams. Its vision is to lift up those hopes and dreams and cultivate an empowered, self-sustaining, supportive and engaged Afghan community. The organization offers a broad range of social, cultural, educational, health, civic, economic and legal services.

Join Us

Admission to the Art Center is always free, and it is open seven days a week: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday noon-6 p.m. Artwork will be for sale.

For more information, interviews, or media inquiries, please contact André Guima at andre@patchworkindy.org