While the world became aware that Ukraine was in a state of war on February 24, 2022, the aggression against the Ukrainian people and its territories started in 2014 when separatist forces supported by Russia created an armed conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine. By April 2015, at least 1.3 million people were displaced within Ukraine. Additionally, about 800,000 sought refuge in neighbouring countries, including 650,000 in Russia and 80,000 in Belarus. At the centre of this presentation will be visual documentation created as a result of the project and the subsequent exhibition (Non) War: Understanding oneself and the borders that separate us from others in the dialogue “Dairies of Donbas.” The project created an understanding between young people from Ukraine and Russia whose lives were affected by the military conflict in Donbas. The aim was to convey their experience and feelings as they were rethinking war through mutual discovery and art creation. The resulting artwork exhibited in Kyiv, Nantes, and Berlin demonstrates the methodology of reconciliation among the youth (18-30 years old) located on the different sides of political divides. This presentation will offer this as a potential case study to examine how art can provide a way for mutual understanding and reconciliation.

Authors:
Alla Myzelev, State University of New York at Geneseo, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Alla Myzelev is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at State University of New York at Geneseo in United States

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark