On December 16, the Museum of Free Belarus in Warsaw opened an exhibition of the Belarusian artist Olga Yakubowska.

Olga told Svaboda whether it is difficult to be creative during the war and repressions, about contacts with political prisoners, as well as future plans.

"Statkevich is a block for me, not a cat"

Yakubovska's exhibition at the Museum of Free Belarus consists of reproductions and originals.

"The exhibition of reproductions was made by my friends from Poznań, it is their merit.

Then people saw the paintings and wanted the exhibition to take place in Warsaw.

In general, for the first time I exhibited in Riga, told Latvians about what is happening here in Belarus.

There were disputes, discussions, but it was interesting," the artist shares.

Exhibition of Olga Yakubovskaya

One of Olga's series of paintings is dedicated to Belarusian political prisoners.

She is still in touch with many of them.

"This has been going on for more than two years.

I draw our heroes who are now behind bars.

Or those who are released and taken away again.

For example, my work "Write letters to political prisoners".

Ilya Mironov was arrested for the first time when he was wearing a T-shirt with a print of my work.

Ilya is sometimes released, then he returns to prison again, - the artist tells.

"There are many boys and girls here, starting with Maksim Znak and Natalya Dulina, whom I drew."

The plots of the paintings appear in different ways, says Olga.

The artist says that she physically cannot paint everyone who is sitting now.

"I can't say that I choose and draw someone specific.

Sometimes you open a page on the Internet, read it and realize that you have to draw it.

Sometimes, on the contrary, I look for a plot for a very long time, - Olga admits.

- For example, I couldn't draw Mikalai Statkevich for a very long time, because for me he is a block, not a cat.

It was difficult, but I really wanted to include him in the series.

And I didn't know how to do it.

And I saw a quote from a girl who wrote him a letter: "You are such a courageous, real lion here."

And I'm like: "Well, that's it!

Leo!''

Olga Yakubovskaya

"We need to somehow transform this horror into something that will help people"

It is very difficult to paint something bright during the war and repressions, says the artist.

“When I read the news, I can just wail.

It's just that now I feel like I don't know what to do, I'm just torn.

But then I sit down and realize: "Okay, now I'm so full of tears.

And who is good from this?

Nobody".

After all, it will not be possible to help someone with this problem, it will only get worse.

Accordingly, you need to somehow process this horror into something that will help people.

If you look at history, you understand that there is no dictatorship that will live forever, especially in the center of Europe."

Now there is a fight between good and evil, Olga believes.

"It started here in Belarus, when everything was clear to those who went out on the streets, when you just have to make a decision, whose side you are on.

And the decision came very easily, because you lived your whole life according to normal human principles.

But all of the 10 commandments were trampled upon.

The one who chose the bright one suffered.

It is difficult now to remain a person in the conditions in which people live in Belarus, because there everything is turned upside down, black is called white, and white is black.

I dream that under these conditions, people will be able to preserve human dignity, universal principles of life," says the artist.

Paintings by Olga Yakubovskaya

"Except for angels, I didn't draw anything"

One of the series of paintings by Olga Yakubovskaya is dedicated to Ukraine.

She says that after February 24, she mostly felt pain and fear, there were many tears.

"I found myself again in August 2020, when you feel helpless, you don't understand how this is even possible.

People who have not directly experienced this horror physically refuse to believe what is happening.

Your hands go down, and you don't understand what to do, - says Olga.

- At such moments, I could not draw anything but angels, so I drew how they protect the Ukrainian land.

I really want the war to end in Ukraine, for it to be a free, happy and prosperous state."

You should go to the exhibition because of your emotions, to remember the events that happened in 2020, says Olga.

"A person who went out to protests and breathed the air of freedom can no longer behave differently, live differently.

Those who want to get positive emotions, come!

It will be good and joyful."

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