National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide in Kiev. A “Difficult” Exhibition

Abstract

The article analyses the permanent exhibit of the National Holodomor-Genocide Museum in Kiev. A particular emphasis is placed on the way the difficult and martyrological content is presented. The article describes the exhibition, its positive aspects and interesting solutions as well as the elements that, according to the author, adversely affect the visitors. The ways to convey essential, emotional, and tragic content in the museum were analysed. Exhibition solutions, such as the distribution of showcases, exhibits, signatures, and multimedia elements, were emphasised. Moreover, the exhibition analysis also draws attention to the elements of message availability and tries to indicate its reception. For the purposes of this article, the literature dedicated to the phenomenon of tanatouristics, the so-called difficult subjects, was also used. Thanks to this measure, the introduction of the article tries to bring these phenomena closer to its readers. The article is also based on the personal experience and knowledge of the author, an employee of an emerging martyrological museum in Poland – Sybir Memorial Museum – art historian, and museum enthusiast.