In a powerful display of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of creativity, nonprofit organization ARTHELPS, in collaboration with agency Jung von Matt, has launched the “Breaking the Silence – RESISTRUMENTS” campaign. This initiative delivers a profound message to Ukraine for 2024 by repurposing weaponry into musical instruments.
At the heart of the campaign is a poignant music video that features Ukrainian youth playing these unique instruments crafted from repurposed weapons. The instruments, created from war scrap, include a missile warhead-turned-violin, a cello fashioned from parts of a carrier rocket, and a guitar with a body made from a fuel canister once used to refuel Russian tanks.
The “Resistruments” campaign is not just about creating music; it’s a symbolic act of turning the remnants of conflict into expressions of resilience and hope. The video showcases the young musicians performing an exclusive composition by Yury Revich, an internationally acclaimed Austrian-Russian soloist who has played with renowned orchestras worldwide.
The initiative took place at the newly established Creative Hub of ARTHELPS in Kyiv, spanning over 1200 square meters. This hub, in partnership with the Saving an Angel Foundation and the Save Ukraine organization, serves as a workshop space and art therapy training center. ARTHELPS, known for its expertise in art therapy, has developed a unique training program to assist traumatized children and adolescents through creative workshops and art therapy. The musical instruments featured in the campaign were crafted during these workshops with Ukrainian children and teenagers in September of this year.
Andreas Brunsch, Managing Creative Director at Jung von Matt, highlighted the profound impact of creativity, stating, “The reactions to this campaign vividly demonstrate the strength of creativity. Considering that these instruments seen here were previously fired by the Russian army onto the homes and cities of these young people, one can only have respect and hope that the initiative helps inform and inspire.”
The music video, professionally staged with the young participants, showcases the resilience of the Ukrainian youth and their ability to transform the remnants of conflict into symbols of creativity and healing. Since the release of teaser videos in November, the project has gained significant attention on social media platforms, generating over 300,000 views in the first days.
Tom Lupo, the founder of ARTHELPS, emphasized the importance of creativity in challenging lives, stating, “We believe that creativity is vital for finding solutions in challenging lives. We support the reconstruction in Ukraine—not only in terms of buildings but, most importantly, in the people learning to reshape their lives with us.”
The campaign has garnered support from Rae Garvey, an ambassador for ARTHELPS and a part of the Saving an Angel Foundation. Garvey emphasized the need to preserve the creative spirit in the midst of conflict, stating, “We must not lose an entire generation of creatives to this war.”
“Breaking the Silence – RESISTRUMENTS” is not just a campaign; it’s a testament to the transformative power of art and creativity in rebuilding lives and fostering hope. As the complete music video premieres on December 13, the initiative continues to inspire hearts, spreading a message of resilience and strength through the universal language of music.
