by Romuald Mieczkowski
Nowy Dziennik, New York, NY
(translated by Michael Szporer, SIEC)

When leaving the Soviet Union Juri Maniichuk had to obtain permission from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to take his "masterpieces" out

of the country. Prominent experts responsible for the protection of national treasures were simply dumbfounded. Nonetheless, they had no

argument to forbid exportation abroad the canvasses of Lenins, Stalins, and other leaders of the Comminist Revolution, of the Red Army

soldiers and partisans, of workers and peasants, of the heroes of socialist labour profiled against the backdrop of steaming factory

chimneys, liquid steel furnaces of foundries, power plants, mines, tractors, and combines........