Giving visitors a glimpse into the beauty and history of Ukraine

It’s hard for Iryna to talk about her home country, Ukraine. Her voice catches when she describes its history and beauty, especially in light of the devastating impact the war has had on the country and its people.

Iryna moved with her husband and twins to Canada four years ago. Though they have settled in British Columbia, their hearts and family still reside in the Ukraine. “My parents live in the West. My husband’s parents are in the Centre of Ukraine. So, it’s hard,” she explains. While they are currently safe, the worry for their wellbeing is ever present.

“We need to talk about what’s happening in the Ukraine,” says Iryna. “We need support. We’re fighting for freedom. We need peace.”

Continuing the conversation about Ukraine

To help continue the conversation about Ukraine, Iryna was supported by a United for Ukraine Local Love Fund to create a cultural exhibit. Even before moving to Canada, Iryna has brought festivals, photo projects, and exhibitions to life.  Her latest exhibit was showcased at the Ukrainian Pavilion during the Surrey Fusion Festival in July.

“I wanted to share about our country, to educate Canadians about our culture. More importantly, I wanted to show our landmarks and the beauty of Ukraine. Unfortunately, a lot of damage has been done to heritage sites and landmarks.”

Bringing the beauty of Ukraine to Surrey

The project was a huge undertaking, involving four-sided cubes with photos of landmarks on each side. Iryna describes the work put into it, “There are 400 photos. The cubes are 10” by 10” and we had 100 boxes.” Thanks to the help of her team, she was able to complete the installation in 12 hours. “I wanted it to be interactive and interesting. The audience can move the boxes to see all sides and learn more.”

To help the audience understand the photos and the meaning behind the landmarks, Iryna and her team were on hand to discuss the landmarks and their importance. She smiles when she speaks about some of those conversations. “It was interesting to see the reaction. Everyone was surprised it was Ukraine because they thought it was Europe. They didn’t know we had castles.”

With an expected audience of 90,000 to patron the festival, Iryna and her team were busy at their pavilion. “When people are ready to hear you, it’s good. People who came wanted to discover new information about different nations. They asked questions and were ready to hear and learn about a place they have never visited.” The days were long but meaningful. She continues, “It was really hot and we talked from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. over the two days. We talked about the project, the beautiful places, the monuments, and how rich our history is.”

Finding new ways to tell the story

It’s not surprising considering the effort and meaning behind the exhibit that Iryna and her team won second prize for the Ukrainian Pavilion. She’s proud of this accomplishment and looks forward to exploring more avenues for the exhibit. “It would be interesting to see them in trees or outside. To explore how different audiences interact in different places.”

While she plans for the next installation, the cubes are stored around her apartment. She laughs about the state of her home, “My apartment looks like an exhibition a lot. I’ve been doing projects for years and there’s always things scattered about my home.”

In the meantime, Iryna is planning a Malanka project. “It’s a national holiday for us. It’s when nature wakes up and we start again after the long winter. I’m working on a documentary about the celebrations of Malanka in Canada.”

As Iryna plans different ways to share with Canadians the traditions, cultures, and history of Ukraine, she keeps in mind the opportunities to make change and help her country. She sees the conversation as not just between politicians but also between everyday people.

“I’m so thankful to United Way BC for the fund. We would’ve struggled to do this exhibit without it. It was an important connection in cultural diplomacy.”