Spark & Riot and Aggressive Put Ukrainian Artists on Display in Paper Planes Exhibit to Support Those Devastated by War

Los Angeles, CA – March 27, 2023 — Production and management company Spark & Riot and the New York-based production company Aggressive have teamed up to create an immersive, sensory art exhibition, in collaboration with Show Gallery in Los Angeles to benefit Ukrainian artists and nationals. The exhibit, War Knocked on the Door to my House— running from April 27 - May 13, 2023—will place attendees in the experience of war, guiding them through a Ukrainian apartment before the war began and after, where they can view a varied collection of works by Ukrainian artists. Throughout, they will be accompanied by a rich surround soundscape of music, poetry, voiceovers of letters by the artists, and even sounds they’ve recorded including sirens and bomb-shelter alarms.

“We really tried to make this feel real, almost like a glimpse into what a living room space would look like after being shelled,” said Spark & Riot Founder Ana de Diego, who came up with the idea as a way to ensure more aid is delivered to Ukraine’s front lines. “The bombed-out apartment concept will give gallery goers a glimpse into what these artists are living through. The space is a part of the artists’ stories.”

War Knocked on the Door to my House will feature artworks by Ukrainian artists commissioned by Grammy award-winning filmmakers Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro, co-founders of Aggressive. The duo has made the political personal, creating the initiative PAPER PLANES to commission art and illustrations as a means of providing work to Ukrainian artists and creatives displaced by— and in many cases trapped within—the war.

“We have our ‘family’ of designers, artists, and photographers who we’ve worked with for years, both in Ukraine and Poland,” said Shapiro. “When the war broke out, we began by connecting Ukrainian creatives with our Polish friends and colleagues; some needed to cross the border, others needed work or lodging. But soon, we started getting messages from artists who were unable to leave Ukraine, trapped in the occupied territories. We offered to send money, but they said they wanted work, not charity. So, we began commissioning artwork.”

The exhibition will also feature PAPER PLANE’s chronology of the war—a timeline of art, collected from over 50 artists and 500 unique artworks, where viewers can connect dates with the artwork produced at specific moments in time. This deeply personal collection documents the day-by-day events as seen through the eyes of the Ukrainian creatives who are living through the war.

“I visited Auschwitz and saw art from the Holocaust, including a children’s comic book,” said Topaller. “We never truly articulated it, but our initial idea for Paper Planes was similar—to capture real events and emotions as they were unfolding at this point in our history.”

Although a snapshot of a particular time and place, Paper Planes will leave behind an important historical record of the war as seen through the eyes of some of Ukraine’s artists and creatives.

It’s also important now. Contributing artist Arina Panasovska came across Alex’s Instagram advertisement offering jobs and housing in Poland to help Ukrainian designers. But she couldn’t leave Kherson, where war was raging, and suggested she could work online. “Alex offered to send me money, but I refused,” said Panasovska. “I needed a job; I couldn't just take the money. He offered [me] to do 10 illustrations for Paper Planes. This project really helped me. We used the money to buy food and medicine. It also helped me to get my emotions into art and not go crazy. I'll be grateful to them for the rest of my life.”

The artwork on display will be available for purchase, with all proceeds (along with a minimum $5 donation) going directly to the artists and to UKRAINE.EXPRESS, a grassroots initiative Topaller and Shapiro operate together with filmmaker Levan Tsikurishvilli (director of Avicii: True Stories) and German paramedic Norbert Lindenthal, which makes monthly deliveries of medical and civilian supplies to the war-torn areas at the front. To date, Ukraine.Express has sent over $1m worth of aid to Ukraine.

“It’s just a drop in the bucket,” said Topaller. “But as long as artists continue to contact us, we will continue to commission new work. You have to be vocal, and having their work displayed on the other side of the planet here in LA achieves that for the artists.”

Added Diego: “We were lucky enough to find support and encouragement from industry partners who have been instrumental to us putting this experience together. Recognizing that our own community of creatives and artists were using their craft to express their suffering unleashed an emotional reaction in all of us."

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About Ukraine.Express

Aggressive and Spark & Riot began their collaboration last year after Russia invaded Ukraine, establishing an ongoing donation to UKRAINE.EXPRESS, a grassroots initiative Topaller and Shapiro operate with fellow filmmaker Levan Tsikurishvili (director of Avicii: True Stories) and German paramedic Norbert Lindenthal. Together, their mission is to provide urgent medical aid, food, clothing, and care to the frontlines and areas in immediate need of attention. UKRAINE.EXPRESS has already moved over $1m worth of supplies, including some 20 tons of medical and emergency supplies and 66 tons of food to aid people in need.

About Spark & Riot

Spark & Riot is a female-powered production and management company with a creative European twist. Its roster of talent includes directors from countries including Bulgaria, Finland, and Spain, and they’ve produced acclaimed work for brands including Apple, Toyota, and Intel. The company was founded with a strong ethos for supporting socially conscious initiatives and actions which is why for every job that Spark & Riot takes on, they partner with a local non-profit organization to help tackle a different UN Sustainable Development Goal. Recently, its fundraising efforts have gone toward Ukraine.Express.

About Aggressive

Headed by the Grammy award-winning filmmakers Alex Topaller and Dan Shapiro, this creative production company crafts commercials, live experiences, and design-driven content for some of the world’s biggest brands and artists such as Amazon, Boeing, Honda, Intel, Michael Jackson, Pharrell, Alicia Keys, and The Beatles.

About Show Gallery

Show Gallery, which is helping to curate and co-produce War Knocked on the Door to my House, is a contemporary art gallery and artist residency located in the heart of Hollywood that showcases both local and international contemporary artists. Show Gallery was created by platinum-selling recording artist Poe and John Gheur, founder of Signature Creative, in collaboration with curator Margot Ross.

Exhibition opening hours:

Opening night: April 27, 2023, from 6-9pm Exhibition: April 27-May 13, 2023, from 2-6pm

Show Gallery address:

1515 N. Gardner Street, LA, CA 90046