Exactly 3 years ago on February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukrainians commemorate this event in Rotterdam with an exhibition of childrens drawings at the Ukrainian House: ‘Through Their Eyes: Childrens Art on War and the Future of Ukraine’.
Three children sit at a table in the Ukrainian House with their homemade drawings. They are Uliana, 12, Veronika, 11, and Yasenia, 10. Half in Dutch, half in Ukrainian, and assisted by an interpreter, they explain what they have made and why.
‘These are mountains in Ukraine, the Carpathians. Its a very beautiful place. There is peace, there is no war, and there are no more Russian people’, starts Uliana. ‘The mountains stand for strength and freedom. No one can break Ukraine.’
Fire and the Army
The drawings provide a glimpse into the experiences and emotions of children in wartime. Part of the art is already hanging on the wall. That is the collection Children and War, made by children from the Drohobych Children’s Art School in Ukraine. Its an impressive wall, with many drawings of burning houses, sad people, and army tanks.
Colorful Flowers
The Ukrainian children staying in Rotterdam have drawn in the theme ‘My Future Ukraine. It speaks of hope. ‘The colorful flowers on my drawing represent the beautiful Ukrainian people’, Uliana continues. ‘I hope the drawing becomes a reality, that Ukraine becomes strong and independent again, and that it will grow and bloom again, just like before the war. In peace, as it was.’
Deep Sorrow
But the sadness is also deep within these children. This becomes clear when Veronika wants to tell what she has drawn. ‘This is me with my father. He is a soldier.’ Immediately the tears come. She is 11 years old and has not seen her father for 3 years. ‘I miss him very much’, she says when she can speak again. She has also drawn a bridge and in the background her own city. ‘A city where people are happy. And where I can see my father again too.’
Grateful to the Army
The youngest, Yasenia, has drawn the contours of the country in the colors of the flag. In the middle is the Ukrainian coat of arms with the word ‘freedom’ incorporated. ‘Ukraine is the only country that no one can conquer’, she says with conviction. Below it, she has written 3CY, the abbreviation for Ukrainian armed forces. ‘The army is in my heart’, she says. ‘I am so grateful to the boys and girls who fight for us. We love you!’
Visit
The exhibition is part of ‘Lost Voices, Unbroken Spirit: Art Route’. Link opens an external page by Stichting VATAHA, commemorating the 3rd year of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The official opening is on February 22 at 1:00 PM at the Ukrainian House. Link opens an external page at Pleinweg 196a. There are various short speeches and the children will also speak. Everyone is welcome. Afterward, you can view the exhibition until the end of March. Opening hours are every Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and every Saturday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Some of the drawings made by children in Ukraine: