animations, 1’ and 1’18’’

This short film captures fragments of stories told by Ukrainians who have been living, studying, and working in France since 2022. Using archival photographs and elements of Strasbourg’s architecture, the artist illustrates the intricate relationship between memory and place. Many displaced people try to hide their experiences from residents, fearing misunderstandings or conversations that may reopen wounds. Migrants affected by war become informal mediators of traumatic reality. Ignoring these stories only exacerbates the social and political crises resulting from the unstable geopolitical situation. The second animation incorporates motifs of Gdańsk architecture, images of Solidarity marches and footage of Independence Day celebrations. Through a staged dialogue, it highlights parallels between the histories of Ukraine and Poland, while emphasising the complexity of discussions about contemporary events resulting from differences in post-memory and experience. The goal of the project was to establish international dialogue and give a voice to those who feel excluded in the new environment.

Participants: Daria, Nika, Agnieszka.

The work was created during an artistic and research residency in Strasbourg, carried out in cooperation with the City of Gdańsk, the ŁAŹNIA Centre for Contemporary Art, the City of Strasbourg and the Apollonia Centre – European Art Exchanges.

Presentations:

2025 – Between the (Un)imaginable and the Real, CSW Łaźnia, Gdańsk, Poland

2024 – Hidden Stories, Halo Kultura, Gdynia, Poland

2023 – artist talk during the art residency at Apollonia – European Art Exchanges, Strasbourg, France