On December 10, 2024, the official opening of the photo exhibition «Refugees from Ukraine – Roma Perspective» took place at the Voivodeship Public Library in Krakow. This is a unique exhibition that documents the lives of Roma refugees from Ukraine. As organizers say, this exhibition is an invitation to reflect on the refugees`s destiny and destiny of Roma.
UAinKrakow.pl visited the exhibition, talked to the organizers and guests.
What the exhibition is about
The photo exhibition «Refugees from Ukraine – Roma Perspective» shows the everyday life and challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees seeking protection in Poland and Germany. The exhibition includes photographs taken in Przemyśl, Krakow, Lubuskie Voivodeship and Germany. Each of these places witnessed personal stories, emotions, and pain. This is reflected in the photographs. The series of photographs were taken by Roma women: Polish woman Izabela Jaskowiak and Ukrainian woman Maryna Borova.
The photographers focused on women and children first of all. Portraits of mothers with children became the centerpiece of the exhibition. According to the authors, it should highlight the importance of family and family connections in difficult times. Photos not only document the situation of Ukrainian refugees, but also show their emotions, which can be seen in the photos. There is fear, uncertainty, and confusion. And alongside this is determination and hope for the best. This view, according to the authors of the photos, is free of simplifications and stereotypes, and allows us to understand the complexity of the situation of Roma refugees and the human tragedy of war.
The exhibition is organized by the Roma Educational Association «Harangos» and the Voivodeship Public Library in Krakow. It was realized thanks to the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
A symbolic opening
The exhibition was symbolically opened on the International Human Rights Day. This day marks the anniversary of the acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed in 1948. Sabrina Amirat, UNHCR representative, believes that such events are very important because the topic of human rights should be kept in mind all the time.
«It’s very important for us to support such events. It is a way to remind us that the war in Ukraine is still ongoing, and we are still accepting refugees who need our help. It’s also important to understand that Roma refugees from Ukraine have special needs. This is a specific group. It’s even more vulnerable because they are more often discriminated against and rejected by society. It`s important to emphasize this. In this artistic way, in particular.
I am very grateful to the Krakow City Administration for supporting our human rights initiatives, including the rights of Roma. I also thank the Association «Harangos» for their work in this area. The photo exhibition is incredible. It shows reality without embellishment. We`re proud to be a part of this project and support this exhibition because it raises human rights issues and also raises the visibility of Ukrainian Roma in society. Roma stories are not only stories about survival, but also about the power of resisting systemic discrimination. We must work together to overcome this and build solidarity. Together we are strong».
At the opening of the exhibition «Refugees from Ukraine – Roma Perspective», Jerzy Wozniakiewicz, director of the Krakow Voivodeship Public Library, said that they are happy to have this exhibition in their building. They have been supporting Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The library regularly holds various classes, meetings and Polish language courses for Ukrainians, as well as exhibitions of Ukrainian artists. For example, in 2022, it hosted an exhibition of children’s drawings «The Old Year passes, but dreams remain» and a talk about doing Ukrainian business in Krakow. And much more. Jerzy is sure that it`s very important to support Ukrainians now. And they continue to do it.
«The photo exhibition «Refugees from Ukraine – The Roma View» is a unique exhibition. Because it is not only about Ukrainian refugees, but also about Ukrainian Roma refugees. They are in an even more difficult situation because of stigmatization and stereotypes about them. They face more challenges.
From the first days of the escalation, the Krakow Voivodeship Public Library joined the humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees. With the help of sponsors. This was our first step. Then we began to provide the library space for Polish language courses for Ukrainians, information assistance, etc. It is important for us to be useful in this difficult time».
«Working on these photos was difficult, but also important»
Isabela Yaskoviak, co-author of the exhibition and director of the Roma Educational Association «Harangos», told us about the process of creating the photo exhibition.
«Participation in this project is important to me because I wanted to show what Roma are going through. They are scared, confused, and don’t know what to do. With my photos I wanted to show that Roma are discriminated against more often than others.
For example, there are photos of mothers with children who were not accepted into a refugee camp. Because they are Romas. They were sitting on the street and didn`t understand what to do. Our organization was looking for a place to shelter them. Sometimes people had to sit for hours and wait for some help. Another terrible picture that I will always remember is the picture of a child who was hungry, and his mother had nothing to give him to eat. They had no food. They were sharing a piece of bread with everyone. We gave them what we had in the car: candies, tangerines. I took a photo of the child who received this food. This photo for me shows a tragedy. Or another story about a woman who was hard of hearing and had a child in her arms, but she helped me translate because she knew Ukrainian and I didn`t. She was with her child, she had a hearing impairment, but she came to help. It’s incredible.
So behind each photo there is a story and a destiny. Each of them is very important and personal to me».
Pawel Lechowski, a representative of the Roma Educational Association «Harangos», says that in Krakow they helped Roma refugees at train stations. They looked for housing for them and took them there. In this way, they helped 3-4 thousand Roma refugees from Ukraine during almost 3 years of war.
Dorota Vayna, a volunteer of the «Harangos», shares her impressions of the exhibition.
«The exhibition is very emotional. The photos that are presented make me sad. The war in Ukraine has forced people to flee. This must not happen. Just as there should be no discrimination against Roma. I work in a hotel where Ukrainian Roma refugees live. We not only host them, but also go with them to various institutions to help them in communication. I have seen different situations. I have seen doors closed in front of them and refusal to help. It’s hard to see.
The photos presented at the exhibition bring me back to these situations. For example, photos of children who had nothing to eat. And when they received food, they smiled. But through this smile you can see fear. Fear of the unknown».
The exhibition «Refugees from Ukraine – Roma Perspectives» will be on show at the Voivodeship Public Library in Krakow until December 30, 2024, on the 2nd floor. The photos presented at the exhibition are the property of RSO «Harangos».
You can also read this article in Ukrainian
This publication was prepared with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editors of UAinKrakow.pl and can in no way be considered to reflect the views of UNHCR. For more information about UNHCR and the aid available in Poland: https://help.unhcr.org/poland/uk/
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