Ukrainian students conjure up peace on the screen in Saarbrücken

Ukrainian students conjure up peace on the screen in Saarbrücken

This week Saarbrücken offered a colorful and moving insight into the world of young Ukrainian artists. Ten schoolgirls from Ukraine traveled a long distance from Ivano-Frankivsk to Saarbrücken to take part in a painting workshop organized by the youth church eli.ja. Andriana, a 15-year-old participant, dedicated her artwork to the longing and dream of seeing her loved ones again. “We want peace, we want the war to stop,” is the message of many of her works, which reflects the reality of life for those girls who grow up in a war zone. SR reports.

The students were invited by Pastor Thomas Hufschmidt, whom they had met in Ukraine last year. His motivation was clear: He wanted to show young people that borders can be overcome and peace can flourish, especially in a country characterized by conflict and reconciliation, like Saarland. For the girls, the week in Germany was a welcome change from their often depressing everyday life during the war. While some of them processed fears while painting, others simply sought a break from the news that shapes their lives. Sophia, a 16-year-old, talked about the lightness of the people in Saarbrücken, so different from the atmosphere at home.

Artistic exchange

The students were not only busy with brushes and paint, but were also accommodated in host families and went on trips to Trier, Metz and Luxembourg. These experiences made the week even more diverse for them and showed them a different side of life. “The architecture was impressive,” they reported. The workshop was led by artist Uwe Appold, who emphasized the power of art to bring people into conversation and build bridges.

The works of art created in the workshop will be exhibited in the eli.ja youth church in Saarbrücken until October 12th. These works are more than just images; they tell stories of loss, hope and the pursuit of peace – a reflection of the reality of young people living in the shadow of war. One student expressed her wish that Ukrainians would remain strong and become even stronger.

A look at the art scene in Ukraine

But art in Ukraine is not limited to this young group. In Kyiv, three outstanding artists, Dzvinka Pinchuk, Karina Synytsia and Maria Matiashova, met to talk about the impact of the war on their art. Their experiences and projects impressively show how art represents a form of resistance. Pinchuk reflects on motherhood during war, while Synytsia uses withered plants as a metaphor for interrupted life. Such artists demand international attention for their culture and the painful changes they have experienced ifa.

Another notable project is “Women Artists in War,” which highlights women artists’ perspectives on the war in Ukraine. The works of 50 Ukrainian artists have been presented on the “Secondary Archive” platform since February 2022. This initiative provides hope and a voice while addressing the challenges of creating in the context of war. In their works, Kateryna Iakovlenko and other artists illuminate the dissonance between grief over war and the small joys of life, such as expecting a child Amnesty reports.

What remains when everything is uncertain? This question concerns many artists in Ukraine. They strive to not only document their own reality, but also to promote a dialogue about solidarity and the power of community through their art. As they battle the odds of war, they are aware of the strength that lies in their creative expression.