When it comes to defending their home and their life, Ukrainian soldiers and artists alike have been uniting to stand guard. Among them is the acclaimed Ukrainian pianist and composer, Tymur Polianskyi, who stayed in Kyiv during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and did all in his power to maintain and protect his country’s culture and heritage. One of those important cultural landmarks in Kyiv is Theatre on Podil — where Poliansky works — was under the threat of destruction, so he and his colleagues stood their ground and turned the venue into a home. Today the theatre continues to operate in full power.

Polianskyi has made immense contributions to Ukrainian culture through jazz festivals, original music for film, television, and immersive exhibits─winning awards like the GOLDEN DZYGA (The Ukrainian Oscar). Now working beyond the borders of his home country, Poliansky arrives in Canada with a one-of-a-kind immersive concert, The Sound Of Ukraine. For this special occasion, he has created an improvised musical accompaniment for two immersive exhibits: Immersive Shevchenko: Soul of Ukraine and Immersive World of Maria Prymachenko. Speaking on his vision for this project, Polianskyi joins smART Magazine to discuss how The Sound of Ukraine unveils Ukraine’s rich culture and expands the viewer’s understanding of some of his country’s most celebrated paintings.