L’art, une arme en temps de guerre

Kulturkrieg - Kunst als Waffe

Culture War: Art as a Weapon

El arte, un arma en tiempos de guerra

Sztuka - broń czasów wojny

Ucraina: quando l'arte è un'arma di guerra

<p>Faced with the invasion of their country, artists in Ukraine are fighting for their country through their artworks and at the frontline.</p>

Ukrainian artists are fighting Russian aggression through their artworks and at the frontline.

A young Russian filmmaker, opposed to the war in Ukraine, films in secret from inside Russia. Her film provides a rarely seen picture of small-town Russia and how ordinary citizens view the war in Ukraine and the current situation in Russia.

A young Russian filmmaker, opposed to the war in Ukraine, films in secret from inside Russia. 

Russia: A Year of War

In March 2022, the war between Ukraine and Russia is raging. While Russian troops are at the gates of Kyiv, this documentary films events in a paediatric hospital in Lviv treating the victims of the conflict. A powerful portrait of a doctor’s daily life in wartime.

While Russian troops are at the gates of Kyiv, this documentary films events in a paediatric hospital in Lviv. A powerful portrait of a doctor’s daily life in wartime.

Lviv - A Hospital in Wartime

 In war it is often the children who suffer the most. Their stable home lives are destroyed and they have to flee. According to Ukrainian sources, 12,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia, the Kremlin says they have been ‘brought home’.

Children of War

How is the war in Ukraine affecting children? According to Ukrainian sources, 12,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia, the Kremlin says they have been ‘brought home’.

Tracks East

How Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy transformed themselves into war leaders: Portrait of two opposing presidents.

Zelensky-Putin: War Leaders

An exclusive investigation into the Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner, headed by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin. 2,500 documents were leaked from Prigozhin’s servers by anti-Putin hackers, shedding light on this secretive group of mercenaries, a key element in the war in Ukraine.

Data Sources

An exclusive investigation into the Russian paramilitary organisation Wagner, headed by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin. 

The Prigozhin Papers

Faced with the invasion of their country, artists in Ukraine are fighting for their country through their artworks and at the frontline.

In the basement of the Presidency, on Bankova Street, in Kyiv, Zelensky held his first meeting with foreign media as Russian tanks rolled into his country. His technique of developing close links with Western media has been a constant throughout the conflict. Florian Litzler, reporter for TF1, was a witness to this historic moment and tells his side of the story. Researcher in political communication, Valentyna Dymytrova, analyses Zelensky's posture.

Zelensky's First Act

Zelensky's technique of developing close links with Western media has been a constant throughout the conflict.

The World in Images

Dojd was the main independent TV channel in Russia, critical of the regime. But after the invasion of Ukraine, they had to leave. Setting up in Latvia before moving on to the Netherlands, the station has not been welcomed with open arms in Europe.

When Latvia revoked the independent Russian TV channel’s licence, Dojd had to move to the Netherlands.

Re: Dojd - Russian Media in Exile

In My Land, the innovative Hungarian company Recirquel mixes circus and contemporary dance. Through powerful choreographic tableaux and striking acrobatics, seven artists from Ukraine evoke the intimate ties that bind them to their native land. In the present context, this piece takes on a new meaning, as acrobat Yevheniia Obolonina says: For although My Land was originally a love story, it now expresses a love of Ukraine. Premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018, this striking work has sold out in performances worldwide.

Recirquel

Through powerful choreography and striking acrobatics, seven artists from Ukraine evoke the intimate ties that bind them to their native land.

My Land

To mark the one-year anniversary of the war, ARTE Concert is screening Kateryna, a Ukrainian opera by Alexander Rodin, commissioned by Odessa Opera. Kateryna premiered at the Odessa opera house in September 2022, despite the Russian war of aggression. The premiere had originally been planned to coincide with World Theater Day on 27 March 2022.

A premiere by Odessa Opera

The Ukrainian opera "Kateryna" premiered at the Odessa opera house while the war was raging.

Alexander Rodin: Kateryna

In March 2022 filmmaker Elena Hazanov, who left Russia as a child refugee for Switzerland, joins a humanitarian expedition to help Ukrainian refugees at the Polish-Ukrainian border. Back in Switzerland Hazanov films the daily lives of Ukrainian refugees with their host families. A documentary that gets to the heart of what exile means.

Filming the daily lives of Ukrainian refugees with their host families. A documentary that gets to the heart of what exile really means.

Voices of Exile

After the end of the Cold War, the Baltic was viewed almost as a quiet backwater. A nice place to visit to see charming Hanseatic cities and sandy beaches. But since the war in Ukraine the Baltic sea, bordered by eight European Union countries as well as Russia, has become a hot spot of world geopolitics. And tensions are high.

Russia, Europe and NATO

Since the war in Ukraine the Baltic sea has become a hot spot of world geopolitics. And tensions are high.

Panic in the Baltic

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Israeli photographer Edward Kaprov went to the Donbas, to Kharkiv, Kherson and Bakhmut to cover the conflict. He chose the collodion photographic process, a technique which provided the first war photography, during the Crimean War (1853-1856), to document today’s conflict. The Polka Magazine competition made this reportage possible.

Ukraine: A Photographer in Wartime

Israeli photographer Edward Kaprov went to the Donbas to cover the war in Ukrain using an old photographic technique used in the Crimean War.

ARTE Reportage

Ukraine: A Year of War

When bombs are raining down all around, when freedom of expression is removed, does this make you laugh? Tracks East looks at how humour is used as a weapon in testing times in Belarus, Ukraine and Bulgaria. (And how dictators don’t have a very developed sense of humour.)

Humour as a Weapon

Tracks East looks at how humour is used as a weapon in testing times in Belarus, Ukraine and Bulgaria. (And how dictators don’t have a very developed sense of humour.)

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. One year later, the war continues, destroying a country situated on the border between two worlds, between Russia and the European Union. A focus on the geopolitical history of a country now associated with conflict.

Ukraine: A Country at War

 A focus on the geopolitical history of a country now associated with conflict.

Mapping the World

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile. There's been a mass creative exodus in recent weeks, including Russian rap stars like Face and Oxxxymiron. Art rockers IC3PEAK post protest videos that would get them arrested in Russia. TikTok star Nikita Sass bravely continues to post his opinion and stays. Few dare to do that.

Russian Artists Against the War

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile

Tracks

As a show of solidarity, Europe is displaying the colours of Ukraine, a country whose desire for democracy and freedom is perceived as a danger by Vladimir Putin's Russia. The pursuit of freedom is the subject of this episode of Twist. A desire shared by artists from all over the world.

The Pursuit of Freedom

The pursuit of freedom is the subject of this episode of Twist. A desire shared by artists from all over the world.

Twist

Russia is turning to Buryatia in Siberia to provide a steady stream of men for its war on Ukraine. Enlisted by force, many Buryats are sent to the frontline and die on the battlefield. As locals slowly turn against the war, Russian authorities crack down on any signs of dissent.

ARTE Regards

Russia conscripts Buryat men and is sending them to die on the frontline in Ukraine.

Soldiers from Siberia

At once seductive and dangerous, historical myth and male fantasy, the femme fatale represents both erotic promise and a death trap to the male observer. Conceived at the end of the 19th century in the works of Gustave Moreau, Franz von Stuck and Lovis Corinth, the femme fatale was completely reinvented in the 20th century by many female artists.

Seductive and dangerous, the figure of the femme fatale in art was completely reinvented in the 20th century.

The Femme Fatale in Art

At first glance, it's an image of innocence. A motherly milkmaid pouring out the milk in a kitchen, preparing snacks from our childhoods. But there's actually far more to her than meets the eye.

The Milkmaid by Johannes Vermeer

A famous image that at first glance looks totally innocent, but is in actual fact full of innuendo

Look but Don't Touch

With all the religious wars, the 17th century was a tense time in Europe. And in art one theme caught everyone’s imagination: the Virgin Mary.

Assumption of the Virgin - Nicolas Poussin

Look But Don't Touch

From an incredibly varied selection of 19th century postcards, the Paris of the Belle Epoque (1871 – 1914) comes to life. Street-photography captured Parisians from all walks of life and conveyed the optimism and elegance of the period.

From an incredibly varied selection of 19th century postcards, the Paris of the Belle Epoque (1871 – 1914) comes to life.

Paris in the Belle Epoque

Bonuses and Extracts

Discover more

The decisive moment in 1618 that triggered the Thirty Years' War between Catholics and Protestants and changed the course of European history.

The decisive moment in 1618 that triggered the Thirty Years' War between Catholics and Protestants. 

The Defenestration of Prague

Tensions between Moldova and Russia are escalating over the breakaway region of Transnistria, an investigation on how prepared Europe is for another summer of wildfires, and a report from the Dissident Club in Paris.

Tensions in Moldova / WildFires in Europe

Tensions between Moldova and Russia are escalating with street protests and controversy over Russian secret documents.

ARTE Europe Weekly

Behind his polite exterior lies a formidable leader with a ruthless character, ready to do anything to make China the world's leading power by the People’s Republic’s centenary in 2049. This well-documented portrait of the Chinese president gives an unprecedented insight into his politics and shows how Xi Jinping's personal journey has shaped his choices as he steers China towards world domination.

A portrait of the Chinese president giving an unprecedented insight into his politics and showing how Xi Jinping's personal journey has shaped his choices as he steers China towards world domination.

The New World of Xi Jinping

Highly influential indie rockers from Boston, famous for such tracks as Debaser and Where is my mind perform in Paris as part of a European tour for their latest album Doggerel.

Legendary and highly influential indie rockers perform in Paris as part of their European tour.

Pixies - Live at the Paris Olympia

Eclectic American singer-songwriter Ben Harper performs from his latest album, 2022’s Bloodline Maintenance. Filmed at Ground Control in Paris.

Ground Control

Eclectic American singer-songwriter Ben Harper performs from his latest album, 2022’s Bloodline Maintenance.

Ben Harper

Lyubov, which means love in Russian, is 80 years old and lives alone on the shores of Lake Baikal. She bears witness to this wonder of nature and possesses and unbreakable bond with the world’s deepest lake in Siberia. Her life here is hard, especially in winter, but she would not live anywhere else.

On the shores of Lake Baikal, an old woman lives alone in a beautiful place that is dear to her heart.

The Old Woman and the Lake

Many governments and organisations are wary of their employers using the social media TikTok. Does the Chinese company really serve Xi Jinping’s regime?

TikTok: A Chinese Threat?

Mapping the World Essentials

Working her way out of poverty as a sex worker all while supporting her family in Romania. That’s Andrada’s goal. She speaks confidently and openly about her work in a red-light district in Germany’s Ruhr region.  
This programme by German channel ARD is part of The European Collection, a joint initiative of European public media (ARD, ARTE, France Télévisions, SRG SSR and ZDF), coordinated by ARTE.

Portrait of a sex worker in the Ruhr region, Germany.  

Hard Life – I sell sex for money

Music director of the WDR Symphony Orchestra, Cristian Măcelaru takes his musicians on a tour of his homeland, Romania. A tour stopping in Timişoara, his hometown. On the programme: The Piano Concerto No. 2 by Johannes Brahms with soloist Simon Trpčeski.

Concert from the European Capital of Culture 2023

Conductor Cristian Măcelaru and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne perform Brahms and Klaus Lang in Romania.

Cristian Mācelaru in Timişoara

France’s President Emmanuel Macron forced through an unpopular reform of the country’s pension system – and the French aren’t having it. We travel to Romania to find out about a possible law to ban gambling adverts, and look at how to protect Europeans from addictions.

France’s pension reform / Gambling / Photography

Protests erupt across France in response to the government’s pension reform bill, and we explore gambling across Europe.

A look at how we are getting better at managing and conserving water supplies in drier parts of our planet like southern Spain, Israel and the desert city of Las Vegas.

Water

 A look at how we are getting better at managing and conserving water supplies in drier parts of our planet like southern Spain, Israel and the desert city of Las Vegas.

Good News From Our Planet

In El Salvador, gangs have terrorised the country for decades. But when Nayib Bukele was elected president in 2019, becoming the youngest head of state in Latin America, he vowed to take back control from the gangs by installing a state of emergency.

El Salvador: The coolest dictator in the world?

When Nayib Bukele was elected president in 2019, he vowed to take back control from the gangs by installing a state of emergency.

Far from the metropolitan centre of Tel Aviv, Sderot show another side of Israel. One with high-levels of social deprivation and strong support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government’s controversial judicial reforms.

Sderot - The Other Israel

Far from the metropolitan centre of Tel Aviv, Sderot is a different Israel with strong support for Netanjahu and high levels of social deprivation.

In Peru, every year, the people who live in remote mountain villages gather to build the Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka, a traditional structure of woven grass, and the last of its kind. This ancestral know-how inherited from the Incas, and the enduring spirit of community, enables the villagers to pull off a stunning feat of engineering, time and again.

In Peru, every year, villagers build the Inca bridge of Q'eswachaka from woven grass, and the last of its kind.

The Inca Grass Bridge of Q'eswachaka

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli gaols have fathered around one hundred children over the last ten years. Their sperm is smuggled out of prison to be used in IVF with their partners.

Israel-Palestine: Secret Babies of the Intifada

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli gaols have fathered around one hundred children over the last ten years.

The literary source for Richard Strauss’s opera immortalizing the degeneracy of Herodes Antipas, King of Judea, and his step-daughter Salome, was supplied by Oscar Wilde. It tells of Herodes, who is keeping the prophet Jochanaan captive inside a cistern. Salome tries to seduce him and on being rebuffed, forces her stepfather to serve her the prophet’s head on a silver platter.

Directed by Christof Loy in Helsinki

Rejected by the prophet Jochanaan, Salome forces her abusive stepfather to exact revenge.