STENCIL GRAFFITI AS A TOOL OF PROTEST MOVEMENTS: THE UKRAINIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of this article is to explore stencil graffiti in Ukraine as a tool of social and political expression and its role in activist and protest movements. The article examines key periods of stencil graffiti use in Ukraine – the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), and the fullscale Russian invasion – through the lens of its conceptual, stylistic, and visual characteristics. Special attention is given to the analysis of European and American stencil graffiti culture and its influence on the development of this style in Ukraine within the local historical context. The research methods. The article is based on research and empirical methods, as well as the author's personal experience in directly studying the development of stencil graffiti and its role in protest movements in Ukraine. Since this topic remains underexplored in Ukrainian art history, a significant portion of the information was obtained through interviews with artists, activists, and members of the graffiti community working with stencils. Results. The phenomenon of stencil graffiti as a component of protest art in Western Europe, the USA, South America, and Ukraine has been examined and analyzed. The study explores the historical, political, and cultural context of Ukraine, which influenced the development of this form of graffiti, as well as its role in social movements, civic, and political activism, communication processes and strengthening the patriotic spirit during the war in Ukraine. Key events and festivals in Ukraine that contributed to the growth of the local graffiti culture have been considered. The works of Ukrainian and Western artists working with stencils as a medium have been analyzed, and the primary stylistic features of their works have been identified. The article outlines the key functions and significance of stencil graffiti as a language of protest and a means of communication in urban spaces. Conclusions. Stencil graffiti became an important means of protest and artistic expression, developing under the influence of youth movements and political changes in Western Europe, the USA, and South America. Its aesthetics was shaped by social and historical events. In Ukraine, this form of graffiti not only reflects global trends but also embodies local accents, being actively used in protest and political actions. Specifically, during the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the full-scale Russian invasion, stencil graffiti became a powerful tool of visual resistance, a means of mobilizing society, and a way of documenting historical events in public spaces. Its use in Ukrainian cities demonstrates the inseparable link between critical art and socio-political processes, as well as its role as an alternative media that shapes public opinion and preserves the memory of the struggle for freedom and independence. The technical and stylistic features of Ukrainian stencil graffiti, shaped by Western traditions, combine protest aesthetics, conciseness of form, and distinctive local symbolism that reflects the country's historical events and social sentiments.