The Art of War: Ukrainian Soldier Has His First Art Exhibition During Edinburgh Festival While on the Front Lines

Since its inception, the Edinburgh Fringe has provided thousands of artists the space and opportunity to promote their work to a large audience. This year, one of the smaller exhibitions is standing out among the rest. Providing viewers with a colourfully impressionistic view from the front lines, Ukrainian painter Oleksa Koba is taking the Fringe by surprise.

This being his first exhibition, many are surprised at the artist's lack of attendance. Koba, however, has a better excuse than most to fail to turn up for his own exhibition: he's 2,000 miles away defending his country against a Russian invasion.

The thirty-two-year-old commander of reconnaissance group “Odin,” is staging his first-ever art exhibition during the Edinburgh Festival. Showcasing more than 30 original artworks, Koba was able to set up plans for the exhibition remotely with the help of fellow Ukrainians living in Scotland.

The Exhibition is set to run for three days, where viewers will have the opportunity to bid on the pieces of art in a closed auction. All proceeds will then go towards aiding Koba in the war effort.

Having been completely self-taught, with no other prior knowledge or experience with art, Koba naturally took to depicting impressionistic landscapes of Ukraine – with each piece dripping with colour and emotion. His work varies from pieces depicting the night sky above Kherson, or the quiet stillness that sometimes appears at the front lines – where he also paints much of his work.

Koba, photographed in 2021.

After being involved with the military on and off for almost a decade, the former IT department programmer explains how he first became involved in the armed forces:

“This is not my first war,” says Koba. “In 2014, I was studying for a Master's degree, when the Russian Federation went on the offensive in Crimea and the Donbas. I handed in my Master’s thesis and went to the front as a volunteer.”

“After returning from the war in 2016, I was closed off from my friends and society.”

The exposure to combat in the Donbas left Koba feeling “depressed and isolated”.

To help combat his depressive episodes caused by the fighting, Koba originally took to computer programming, with him even founding the company IT BRO with his brother. To help support those going through similar after-effects, Koba expanded his company into education, with him teaching courses in programming for fellow veterans for free.

Koba describes the moment that he decided he wanted to start painting:
“I woke up one morning wanting to start painting, even though I had never painted before. I collected funds from freelancing and bought paints and canvases… Drawing became a way to turn off my consciousness and dive into my subconsciousness. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I paint because I breathe.”

Koba painting while on deployment.

Having all his paint supplies secured in a moisture-proof bag he always carries, Koba has completed roughly 120 pieces of art since first picking up the brush in 2016. When asked how the idea for the exhibition came about, Koba explains that it was "Suggested by friends. They transported the paintings and organised everything."

Marjan Pokhylyy, a Ukrainian national and Koba’s friend, is the exhibition’s main organiser. Having lived in Scotland for more than a decade, Pokhylyy has maintained a consistent friendship with Koba for years, and was astonished by his artwork. With connections to Edinburgh's art scene, Pokhylyy organised for Koba's artwork to be shipped over from Ukraine in time for the Fringe.

“Getting the art over was not easy,” he explains. “We had to get them driven from the front over to Poland, where they sat for a month in customs until they were finally shipped over here… We had to put in a lot of effort to get this to work, but it's all paying off now.”

Asked why he is helping set up this exhibition, Pokhylyy explains: “Oleska needs all the help he can get… This exhibition will hopefully raise some awareness for the soldiers like Koba who are living and dying on the front lines.”

As well as organising the exhibition, Pokhylyy has put the paintings up for a closed auction. This will involve the public putting down bets on each of the paintings, with the winners being announced after the showcase is over – minimum bets have been set at £50. Once all the funds have been collected and the paintings sold, Pokhylyy will send the money back to Koba to go towards equipment for the war effort.

As Koba explains, "I am the commander of the 'Crows of Odin' air reconnaissance group. The money raised from the auction will go towards new reconnaissance equipment that'll help save lives on the front.”

With the art's quality matching its incredible story, Koba's exhibition has gathered some attention from festivalgoers. Scottish art legend and prominent Fringe figure, Richard Demarco, made an appearance at the exhibition, highly recommending more people to the show.

Scottish artist and Fringe legend, Richard Demarco, visiting the exhibition, 15th August.

“I would like this exhibition not to stop in Edinburgh,” states Koba. “I would love for the message of my art to travel around the world, and for people to not forget about the war… I greatly appreciate the support and aid being sent over from Scotland.”  

Depending on the showcase's success between the 15th and 18th of August, Pokhylyy says that they will continue trying to set up more exhibitions to raise more funds for the war. “Without the fringe,” Pokhylyy admits, “this wouldn’t be possible. We are all so grateful for this opportunity.”