World’s Largest Painting “Cosmogony” Damaged in Russian Attack on Lutsk

The world’s largest painting, Cosmogony, and the largest work of painting in Ukraine, was damaged by falling drone debris and a fire at the Adrenalin City entertainment center in Lutsk on October 13.

The fire damaged the sixth and final section of Cosmogony, titled “The Future,” the director of the Museum of Contemporary Ukrainian Art told Suspilne.

“By destroying art and culture, they are also trying to destroy Ukrainians. This is the world’s largest painting. Cosmogony covers an area of 2,000 square meters,” the director said.

According to Tetiana Repnytska, the other thematic sections of Cosmogony survived: “The Beginning,” “The Creation of the Earth,” “The Creation of Nature,” “The Creation of Man,” “The Creation of Society,” and “The Noosphere.”

As museum art historian and chief curator Oles Tomakh told Suspilne, some of the artworks had to be rescued from destruction following the drone attack.

“We had an exhibition of works by Emma Andiievska at Cosmogony, featuring more than 300 pieces. We quickly began moving them out, but we didn’t manage to save some of them in time. Fortunately, only the glass was broken. All the other museum halls were unaffected,” Oles Tomakh said.

Tetiana Repnytska said that the painting’s creators will decide whether to restore Cosmogony or create a new section.

“Despite the shelling, we will continue to develop contemporary Ukrainian art and preserve it,” the museum director said.

What Is Known About the “Cosmogony” Project and Russia’s October 13 Attack

In September 2024, the artistic project Cosmogony, which took nearly two years to create at the Museum of Contemporary Ukrainian Art in Lutsk, set a national record in the art category, earning the title of the largest painting in Ukraine.

Artist Petro Antyp began creating the painting in November 2022. Originally from Horlivka in the Donetsk region, he moved to the Kyiv region after 2014 because of the war. Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he lived in Lutsk. The artwork covers an area of more than 2,000 square meters and required two tonnes of paint.

On the evening of October 13, falling drone debris sparked a fire inside the Adrenalin City cultural and entertainment center. According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, the fire broke out on the roof. Seventeen emergency vehicles and nearly 50 rescuers were deployed to the scene.