On Saturday, 4 October 2025, the team of the GDIP Media Center Directorate organised a new walking tour for representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps titled Podil Murals.
The city promenade brought together the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain, Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, and of Finland, Tarja Fernández, as well as staff members of the embassies of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden, along with representatives of the European Union and Progetto Arca in Ukraine.
Street art has long evolved into a true form of art that brings city streets to life and turns building walls into vivid canvases. Podil and other districts of the capital have become an open-air gallery, where more than 170 murals tell stories, capture the imagination and inspire. Among them are striking portraits, picturesque landscapes and abstract compositions created by artists from around the world, including one featured in the Street Art Today global ranking of the world’s best murals.
The murals carry profound meaning: they draw attention to important issues, mirror Kyiv’s contemporary life and convey social and cultural messages, especially in the context of the ongoing wartime challenges. Every mural is a unique story to be felt and reflected upon.
During the tour, international guests learned about the origins of Kyiv’s murals, the emergence and evolution of street art, and the purpose behind creating art on city walls. Participants enjoyed an open-air exhibition guided by an experienced tour leader, who enthusiastically presented the most remarkable works of both Ukrainian and foreign artists, including muralists from Australia, Brazil, France, and Spain. These artists transformed the ordinary façades of historic Podil into true works of art, each filled with its own ambience and meaning.
The highlights of the walk included murals by Ukrainian artist Volodymyr Manzhos — Sapiens dominabitur astris [The wise one will rule the stars] and Time of Change: Victory — as well as wall paintings dedicated to the youngest Hero of Ukraine and the legendary Ghost of Kyiv
This tour became a vivid testament to the innovation and vitality of art that seeks to preserve the spirit and essence of Ukrainian identity, even in the face of modern challenges.
