Специфіка експонування патріотичного плаката за межами України

The article analyses the reactions of foreign audiences to the Ukrainian war poster exhibited on the walls of famous universities. The purpose of the study is to identify problematic areas of exhibition activity outside Ukraine during the period of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. Research methods. Comparative and art historical analysis. Scientific novelty. The article identifies the causes of conflicts that arise during Ukrainian poster exhibitions abroad, which artistically highlight Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian armed invasion and the crimes against humanity committed by the aggressor. The analysis of messages in the press and social media from so-called ‘active viewers’ shows that they repeat Russian propaganda narratives, thus demonstrating Russia’s targeted influence on the public opinion of EU citizens. Conclusions. The exhibition activities of Ukrainian artists, regardless of the results, are undoubtedly necessary and useful because even a negative attitude towards the Ukrainian cultural product reveals Russian influences in local communities and creates precedents for publicising and discussing the situation of military aggression against an independent European state such as Ukraine. Poster art allows us to effectively visualise the problems of the war and Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine and convey the message to the international community. This way, graphic design performs a beneficial expository function, becoming a counter-propaganda to Russian narratives. In this way, exhibition activities with public discussion around them significant-ly increase Ukraine’s presence in the European media space. However, it is essential to point out another problem. Given the mixed attitudes of viewers in various Western European countries towards Russia’s war in Ukraine, it often depends on the decision of curators and organisers whether to escalate the situation and remove controversial works from the exhibition or defend their position. Therefore, the ability of artists to be on-site and respond creatively to vandalism and false accusations would be the best solution in such a situation. Still, unfortunately, this is the kind of opportunity that Ukrainians have during the war.