Who are we?
We are an independent not-for-profit arts organisation, bringing Ukrainian artistic and cultural presence into the heart of European cultural life.
Ukrainian culture is not seen as an integral part of European culture, while every day our common heritage is being destroyed.
Our foundation aims to remove this blind spot while solidifying Ukrainian presence within the European cultural context to create a living dialogue.
Why now?
FarNear exists to bring back lost and forgotten parts of European culture from Ukraine, uncovering shared roots and offering new perspectives. It aims to integrate Ukrainian culture into a broader European cultural context, connecting artists and culture-makers that enrich both sides. At the same time, it brings forward what is contemporary today and what has the potential to become canonical tomorrow.
Are you interested in co-creating, or do you want to learn more about our projects?
CONTACT US
“Ukraine is not measured in territories, ruined cities, or numbers tallied, but in emotionally resonant stories that mobilise and bind people together culturally, while existing through time and generations.”
Exhibitions (archive)
“We Carried the Soil with Us” curated by Dasha Lohvynova with artists: Katia Motylova-Babinska, Stefaniia Bodnia, Karolina Uskakovych and Anna Khvyl, TROEF Leiden.
Exhibition on show: 20.03.2026 to 10.05.2026
Concerts ongoing
SplenDOOR to Ukraine, a series of concerts of Ukrainian classical music accompanied by Ihor Sukhorukov’s lectures about the Ukrainian cultural context, Splendor Amsterdam, ongoing...
Last Updated September 2026
About
The FarNear Foundation is based on @Nomadische Boekenplank, created by Ihor Sukhorukov in 2023, combined with the artistic practice & projects of Christian van der Kooy and academic research & curatorship of Dasha Lohvynova.
Ihor Sukhorukov
Managing Director, FarNear Foundation
Ihor Sukhorukov
is a Ukrainian (b. 1986) cultural programmer and lecturer, co-creator of “SplenDoor to Ukraine,” and founder of the “Nomadische Boekenplank” project.
He initiated the “Nomadische Boekenplank” lecture series on Ukrainian contemporary art, classical music, and prominent culture-makers. These included a public talk on “Russian Colonialism” by Maksym Eristavi, as well as a panel discussion and movie screening about the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars. Another screening was organised for “Where Russia Ends,” with the film director Oleksii Radynsky and producer Liuba Knorozok. Last year, he co-organised the group exhibition “Interwoven” at Vrij Paleis, Amsterdam.
Dasha Lohvynova
Program Director, FarNear Foundation
Dasha Lohvynova is a Ukrainian (b. 2000) curator, art historian, lecturer, and independent researcher. Her research interests lie in exploring artistic and curatorial practices in the so-called region of Middle and Eastern Europe, with a specific focus on Ukraine and contemporary Ukrainian art.
She created a series of lectures about Ukrainian contemporary art within the context of 2014-2024 in collaboration with the Nomadische Boekenplank, as well as the lectures “Decade of Ukrainian Contemporary Art” during the exhibition “Interwoven” and “What the Earth Holds?” at WORM Rotterdam, as part of the Fotodok x WORM exhibition “Radiations of War” by Yana Kononova. She co-curated the exhibition “Pink de Thierry - leven in kunst” at the Frans Hals Museum HAL, and curated “We Carried the Soil with Us” with four Ukrainian artists - Katia Motylova-Babinska, Stefaniia Bodnia, Karolina Uskakovych, and Anna Khvyl at TROEF Leiden.
Christian van der Kooy
Artistic Director, FarNear Foundation
Christian van der Kooy
is a Dutch (b. 1983) visual artist and curator from The Hague. His practice consists of long-term projects that explore the value and socialising role of art and culture. Since his first visit to revolutionary Kyiv in 2004, he has been seeking stories in which a new generation of Ukrainians shapes their society.
He created and curated the bookproject and exhibition of “Anastasiia, She Folds Her Memories Like A Parachute” at Foam Amsterdam; the ongoing exhibition project “Past Perfect Continuous, views on Crimea” at gallery Mina; the group exhibition “Forever and a Day” in Melkweg Expo Amsterdam; and the exhibition accompanying the classical concert “Unbroken: Voices From Ukraine” by Lux Aeterna Revoice and Classical NOW!
Jeroen van Zelst
Chairman, Supervisory Board
Radboud Molijn
Member, Communications, Supervisory Board
Iryna Negovan
Member, Finance, Supervisory Board
Contact
info[at]christianvanderkooy.eu
info[at]farnear.nl
+31 6 143 147 60
+38 09 338 355 13
Stichting FarNear is a registered foundation (”stichting”) with a charitable status (”culturele ANBI”) in The Netherlands / RSIN: 869217823 / KvK: 99990903 / Nassaukade 15 2, 1052 CG, Amsterdam / info@farnear.nl