Happy 20th Ukraine!
It may have a very long and interesting history, but ironically, this great country we live in is one of the youngest in the world. Later this month, Ukraine turns 20, and we here at What’s On would like to wish the country and every one in it, a very happy birthday. As part of this issue dedicated to this great celebration, we’re taking a look back at the last 20 years, noting the most important events in the country’s young life as it comes of age.

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‘I Remember’, painting by Nikolai Zalevsky, Collection gallery (8 Pankivska), 17 November – 10 December
A collection of paintings by Nikolai Zalevsky marks the start of Collection gallery’s showcase of works by artists who left the Soviet UNI0N. In the 1970s Zalevsky was one of the rising stars of the underground art scene, exhibiting his paintings at private flats in the Ukrainian capital before leaving for New York in the 1980s, never to return. Surrealist in nature, Zalevsky’s works are on display till 10 December. Call 401-1201 for details.

‘Face Control’, paintings by Masha Shubina, Bereznitsky gallery (22 Rybalska), 17 November – 8 December
Creative types, posers, and Eurotrash of all levels will be air-kissing and cooing at Bereznitsky gallery over the coming weeks, where Masha Shubina will be exhibiting her latest exhibition. No doubt the Russian and Ukrainian artists of old such as Repin, Benoit, Bakst, Vrubel and Malevich would be proud of Shubina’s latest philosophical exploration; the girlfriend of art enfant-terrible Ilya Chickan has modestly painted herself near naked, covered only by colourful childish scrawls leaving the art establishment and perhaps the very foundations of society itself rocking. Call the gallery on 280-0782 for more details.

Photo exhibition ‘Herbarium of Love’, by Edvard Koinberg, Art Centre on Kostyolna (8 Kostyolna), till 30 November
The colourful close-up shots of flowers by Swedish photographer Edvard Koinberg stand as tribute to the life’s work of Karl Linn’, a Swedish botanist who founded the modern classification system for plants and animals. According to the photographer the exhibition illustrates and illuminates Linn’s scientific theories, but there’s also a subtle scent of eroticism too, hence the moniker ‘Herbarium of Love’. Call the gallery on 279-5762 for more information

Ukrainian heavyweight Vladimir Klitschko knocked out previously undefeated American Calvin Brock to retain his IBF world title at Madison Square Garden 11 November. The 30-year-old Ukrainian knocked out his opponent with a clean right in the seventh round, setting Klitschko up for a potential $20 million defense against former champ Evander Holyfield. Klitschko’s victory once more puts Slavic boxers in the ascendancy, a fact which white supremacist bloggers in America have used to hijack the mild-mannered fighter as the latest in a long line of great white hopes. Klitschko is one of three former Soviet citizens to currently hold one of four versions of the world heavyweight title, and fight fans are now anticipating a mouth-watering series of unification bouts.

Kingdom Come in concert, October Palace (1 Instytutska), 27 November at 19.00
Fronted by charismatic Hamburg-born vocalist Lenny Wolf, Kingdom Come rubbed shoulders with the likes of Dokken, Scorpions, Metallica, and Van Halen in the late 1980s, shifting hundreds of thousands of albums and singles. Indeed the band supported the Scorpions during the first part of the German’s ‘Savage Amusement’ tour, being fired in true rock and roll fashion after Wolf continually used stage props set aside exclusively for the Scorpions. Compared both favourably and unfavourably to Led Zeppelin, critics of the band dubbed them Kingdom Clone, the rockers maintain a strong following throughout Europe, while in America the recent rehabilitation of 1980s hair rock has also seen their credibility and popularity rise. Tickets are 80-400hrv, for more information call 229-1582.

‘So far, So close’ by Mykhailo Tkachuk, Kyiv Mohyla Cinema Club (927 Naberezhno Khreschatytska, room 13), 28 November at 18.30
The regular screenings of artistic films at Kyiv Mohyla Cinema Club continues with Mykhailo Tkatchuk’s ‘So Far, So Close.’ Tkatchuk’s critically acclaimed masterpiece has been partly chosen as the screening coincides with the one hundred year anniversary of the birth of Polish activist, dissident, and literary giant Jerzego Giedroycia, the former editor-in-chief of the Parisian art periodical ‘Culture’ and the founder of Rome’s Literary Institute. Kyiv Mohyla Cinema Club will continue screening art house cinema throughout the winter, and admission is a bargain at 1hrv. For more information on upcoming screenings call 416-6096.

New Russian Grannies in concert, Palace Ukraina, 26 November at 19.00
Matrena (Sergey Chvanov) and Tsvetochek (Igor Kosilov) are two Russian old ladies who have certainly moved with the times, openly talking about technology, society and, their favourite conversational subject, sex in a manner which would make their children and even their grandchildren shocked. The grannies attempts to keep abreast with a capitalist society obsessed with luxury cars and hard bodies are always funny and frequently hilarious, with tickets for the old girls’ nights of cabarets being some of the hottest on the market. Tickets are 50-500hrv, for more information call 237-2316. For more information on the ‘Babki’ themselves, go to www.rusbabki.ru.

Todes ballet, Palace Ukraina, 3 December at 19.00
The sexiest dance troupe in the CIS, Todes ballet, will be bringing their brand of raunchy dance to the Ukrainian capital. Besides being incredibly easy on the eye, each Todes dancer is highly schooled in their art, combining a range of styles and genres some of which date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Artistic eroticism at its very best, the troupe continues to enthral almost years after it was founded. For more information call 237-2316.

‘Don Quixote. 1938’, Lesya Ukrainka Theatre, 30 November at 19.00
Supported by the Spanish Embassy, this ambitious production by Mikaylo Reznikovich draws on numerous writings by Russian writer and one-time Kyiv resident Mikhail Bulgakov coupled with Cervantes’ immortal Don Quixote. The action takes place both in sixteenth century Spain and in Stalin’s Moscow of 1938, using fragments of Bulgakov’s plays, diary entries, correspondence and memoirs to weave a complex and thought-provoking web of critique and intellectual thought. Tickets are 7-75hrv, call 234-4223 for more information.

DiDyuLya in concert, October Palace (1 Instututska), 6 December at 19.00
A passionate performance of fiery flamenco and delicate soulful Spanish melodies can be expected when DiDyuLya takes the stage at October Palace. The Russian guitarist’s grasp on the subtle nuances and spirit of Iberian guitar-based music is second to none, with his understanding greatly enhanced by the years he spent in Spain. Moorish elements can also be heard in the DiDyuLya sound, which is just the thing to chase the winter blues away. Tickets 30-350hrv, call 279-15-82 for more information.

A Man of Many Words
Young, good-looking and successful. But enough about me – let’s talk about Andriy Danilevych. At the tender age of 30, this baby-faced assassin is an editor at TRK Ukraina. He hosts political debates and interviews VIPs, up to and including presidents. He’s just finished for the summer, and What’s On caught up with him before he jetted off to New York.