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Article

The place and role of memorial murals in urban environments

Taras Dovhaliuk
Abstract

The relevance of this research was driven by the increasing demand for new commemorative practices amid the ongoing war caused by the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine. The aim of this study was to analyse contemporary methods for creating memorial murals, to determine their role in shaping public memory, and to explore their integration into urban spaces. The research employed methods of visual analysis, field study, interviews, and discourse analysis. In research was examined the phenomenon of memorial murals as a distinctive form of public art operating within urban environments. It was defined that murals had emerged as an effective tool for documenting collective memory, constructing identity, and shaping the symbolic spatial landscape of cities. The focus was placed on mural practices in Ukrainian cities, with particular attention to the author’s experience in implementing memorial mural projects. The findings identified key transformations in the design of such works across five dimensions: sociocultural, spatial, communicative, technological, and political. It was established that in wartime conditions (2022- 2025), memorial murals transcended their artistic form and became carriers of meaning – acting as social markers, emotional responses, and critical interpretations. The study revealed that the effectiveness of such projects depended on the quality of engagement with local communities, professional dialogue with the urban context, and the presence of a solid methodological foundation. Risks associated with unprofessional approaches – such as retraumatisation, environmental distortion, and the loss of symbolic value – were also highlighted. The practical value of this research lies in the development of approaches for the meaningful creation of memorial murals, which can be scaled nationally and integrated into international cultural discourse

Keywords

visual memory; public space; urban identity; collective memory; spatial commemoration

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Received 15.08.2025, Revised 18.11.2025, Accepted 19.12.2025

Retrieved from Vol. 11, No. 4, 2025

Suggested citation

Dovhaliuk, T. (2025). The place and role of memorial murals in urban environments. Architectural Studies, 11(4), 9-20. https://doi.org/10.56318/as/4.2025.09

https://doi.org/10.56318/as/4.2025.09

Pages 9-20

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ISSN 2411-801X e-ISSN 2786-7374  UDC 71;72
DOI: 10.56318/as