��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to strengthen research, partnerships in Ukraine

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:44:53 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Vice-President (Research) Dan Weeks is participating in a mission that includes Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Deans that will formalize linkages between Canada and Ukraine, and their post-secondary sectors.

The mission, which takes place from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, includes universities in all regions of Canada and aims to increase higher education co-operation, increase student recruitment and two-way student exchanges, position higher education collaboration for possible funding and sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ukrainian Rectors and the CBIE.

Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk, will launch the mission during a seminar hosted by the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

During a series of workshops at the Taras Shevchenko National ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Kyiv, Weeks will moderate a discussion between members of the Canadian delegation and Ukrainian universities to determine future areas of academic and research collaboration.

"The international relevance of the research conducted at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge increases every day," says Weeks. "This is due to individual efforts and interests of our researchers, but also as a result of the increasing importance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is placing on creating and nurturing international partnerships. Ukraine provides key opportunities for Canadian universities."

Current linkages the U of L has with Ukraine include the work of Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, who has been involved in the detailed analysis of the genetic consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Also, last year Fine Arts Faculty member Taras Polataiko's exhibition, Sleeping Beauty, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, generated worldwide media interest. The U of L attracts students from about 90 different countries worldwide and is currently home to both undergraduate and graduate students from Ukraine.

Several Memoranda of Understanding will be signed during the mission, including an overarching agreement between CBIE and the Union of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Ukraine.

Expanding the internationalization of the U of L is a key strategic direction identified in the 2009-13 strategic plan. U of L President Mike Mahon reiterated that message in an open letter to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community released last year, entitled the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – Alberta's Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

CBIE's news release regarding the Ukraine mission can be found athttp://www.cbie-bcei.ca/?p=11515.

Polataiko exhibition garners worldwide attention

trevor.kenney — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:45:18 +0000

Taras Polataiko's exhibition, Sleeping Beauty, at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine, has generated considerable media interest worldwide. What initially started out as an interactive performance art exhibit with live streaming video has stirred up a firestorm of international commentary that includes critical praise, some apprehension, a possible copycat, and at least one newfound romantic relationship.

The three-week-long show, which ran until Sept. 9, 2012, featured five women in white gowns sleeping on a raised podium bed in the gallery, to Eric Satie's mystical Gnossiennes piano pieces. Each Beauty had her own melody. Men and women who came to view the show had the opportunity to participate in it by 'awakening' one of the women with the power of a single kiss…and an important accompanying commitment. Before attempting the kiss, both men and women were required to sign a contract stating that they were single, at least 18 years of age, and seriously intended to marry the Beauty if their kiss caused her to open her eyes. The 'Sleeping Beauties' participating in the exhibit signed a similar agreement: that they would only open their eyes if they felt a true, intuitive connection in the kiss, and they agree to marry the 'Prince' whose kiss awakens them.

Instead of a quiet exhibit, international TV and radio networks like BBC, EURONEWS, FOX, ABC, CBS, RAI, ANSA, American Public Radio and GloboTV all of the major international news companies – including Associated Press, Reuters, France Presse and The Telegraph – online news and major international newspapers from Le Figaro and The Guardian to the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, and social sites from Hyperallergic to Huffington Post have pounced on the story, some repeatedly.

The responses have ranged widely from the romantic to the political. The exhibition was almost shut down by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture a day before it was scheduled to open. There is cultural commentary embedded in Polataiko's take on the fairy tale regarding the enduring patience of the Ukrainian people awaiting a "catalyst" for successful revolution (see the Guardian's article for more).

The gender roles of the 'beauty' and the 'prince' ignited online discussion about old-fashioned gender tropes, positive and negative notions of 'true love', even voyeurism. In a media world where courting has been turned into successive generations of reality television programming, the idea of love found through hopeful intuition is perhaps not so far-fetched; at least one hopeful suitor moved viewers to tears when his kiss was not successful.

Only one 'awakening' was reported, with a twist - instead of a 'Prince' waking the sleeping beauty, it was a 'Princess'. Same-sex marriage is currently not allowed in Ukraine, but the attention the exhibit received might stir new consideration of that issue. Further information regarding this development was examined by the Huffington Post.

Five days after Polataiko's project ended, a notably similar event took place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York: a one-night-only launch on Sept. 14, by American pop singer/writer Lady Gaga, where she 'slept' inside a large set construction of her perfume's custom bottle. While sleeping performances have been seen previously in art, Gaga's exhibit may have been less about contributing any kind of artistic statement and more about simply promoting her fragrance. Polataiko's response to the similarities was posted on the New York art website Hyperallergic.com.

While this inaugural exhibition has ended, Polataiko may recreate Sleeping Beauty in North America, South America, Europe or other parts of the world. He is indeed interested in other possible readings its restaging in other countries may engender.

Taras Polataiko has been teaching at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2010.

UNews - Kyiv

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to strengthen research, partnerships in Ukraine

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Polataiko exhibition garners worldwide attention

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to strengthen research, partnerships in Ukraine