Decolonial approach to countering Russian cultural expansion and the appropriation of Ukrainian artistic heritage in higher art education

Abstract

The article examines the decolonial approach as a methodological basis for countering Russian cultural expansion and appropriation of Ukrainian artistic heritage in the system of higher art education. The article examines the decolonial dimension of countering Russian cultural expansion and narratives of appropriation of Ukrainian artistic heritage. The authors emphasize that the problem of appropriation of Ukrainian cultural achievements has deep historical roots and is closely linked to the formation of the imperial canon, within which Ukrainian artists and art schools were systematically represented as “Russian”. At the present stage, in the context of war, these practices are taking on new forms – from distorted museum policies to digital communications, creating risks of further marginalization of Ukrainian culture at the global level. Particular attention is focused on the key concepts of “cultural expansion”, “cultural appropriation” and “imperial narratives”, which help explain the mechanisms of domination, devaluation, and distorted interpretation of history and art. The decolonial approach is presented as a methodologically productive tool for analysis, which makes it possible to restore the authenticity of heritage, return Ukrainian art to its status as an independent phenomenon of the global cultural process, form critical cultural consciousness, and strengthen national identity. The work systematizes scientific knowledge about the application of decolonial practices in the humanities, art education, and cultural policy, and outlines methods of countering imperial discursive constructions through museum exhibitions, media narratives, artistic communications, and cultural diplomacy. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential of digital platforms and visual strategies as modern tools of decolonization that allow for the dissemination of reliable information about Ukrainian heritage in the global information space. The proposed approach integrates cultural, art, and communication analysis, combines an understanding of historical experience with the current practices of artists and cultural institutions, and demonstrates how national art can be a resource for innovation and resistance. The article outlines prospects for further research in the field of combating cultural appropriation, developing Ukrainian artistic discourse, strengthening cultural subjectivity, and integrating local traditions into the global context, which is particularly important in the process of restoring the rightful place of Ukrainian culture in the European and global space.