Lighting a Torch of Hope Through Art

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has drastically changed the lives of many people.

I'm from Russia, and I'm deeply disturbed.

At this time of uncertainty, I heard there was an art exhibition being held in Tokyo.

Participating were artists from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Japan expressing an anti-war message.

I wanted to hear their thoughts and feelings on how they continue to be creative in the midst of all the hardships.

My name's Anastasia Monakova, and I'm a Russian-language reporter for NHK WORLD-JAPAN.

I've been living in Japan for four years.

Since the start of the invasion, I've been closely following what's happening in Ukraine.

The situation has changed dramatically for people both from Ukraine and Russia.

And now I have no idea when I can return home.

This really worries me.

In May, I visited the exhibition being held at a university in Tokyo.

It was organized by Lena Aframova, a photographer from Ukraine.

She has lived in Japan for more than 20 years.

Her hometown has been badly damaged by Russian forces.

Even being in Japan, it is emotionally very difficult for me.

It is like my identity and part of my life are being bombed.

So, I don't' feel far away, to be honest, no.

I also take part in demonstrations against the war.

I think it's my duty to raise my voice.

The theme of the exhibition is "Dom•Dym•Dom," which means "Home, Smoke, Home" in Russian.

The seven artists from Ukraine, Russia, Japan and Belarus all contributed works with an anti-war perspective, including portraits of refugees.

This work, with its broad white strokes against a black background, is titled "Song of Smoke."

Painted by an artist in Russia, it describes the state of the country, in which people's eyes are covered by the smoke of propaganda.

Some of the works on display were particularly colorful and eye-catching.

They were created by an artist who is still working in Kyiv despite the war.

Blue and yellow...

A stork clad in the colors of the Ukrainian flag spreads its wings as if protecting people.

I was amazed when I heard from the artist Alyona Tolkachova that she had produced her vivid paintings while hiding in a narrow corridor in their house.

In our corridor, everything I need for painting was hanging on the wall.

I continued to paint there because for me living and creating are equally important.

So, I only feel fully alive when I'm creating something.

Alyona used to live peacefully with her husband and son in the city she loved.

Those happy days are over.

When Kyiv was under attack, she continued painting in the corridor.

That's when the image of the stork, a symbol of freedom and happiness, came to her.

She wanted it to protect people's lives.

The paintings have drawn many positive responses.

My friends started sending messages to me.

They said, "Thank you very much! Your paintings are helping us, just like a ray of light."

Even at times of war, some kinds of creative activity take place.

Artists do not give up!

Helping with the exhibition were students and teachers of the Russian language department of the university that provided the venue.

Numano Kyoko was one of them.

As a professor who has been fascinated by Russian literature and culture for many years and has conveyed its appeal, she was very shocked by the invasion.

Even we teachers find it hard to accept this reality.

It must be even harder for the students.

I really feel helpless.

But I think we must all do whatever each one of us can do in our own capacity.

I sensed everyone involved had a strong anti-war sentiment.

An artist from Belarus, Russia's ally, also exhibited his work.

It's based on a happy memory of a table loaded with much more food than his family could eat on a visit to his grandfather's house.

But the figure in the background is only dimly depicted.

That's because he hasn't been able to see his family in Belarus for a long time, and his memories of them are becoming distant.

So what does home mean to him?

To find out, I paid him a visit.

Hi.

Iłla Jeraševič lives in the suburbs of Tokyo.

He had been busy making dishes of his homeland to welcome me.

So, do you often cook Belarusian
or Ukrainian or Russian dishes here?

Just about every day, yes.
And I bake once a week.

By cooking these dishes, he remembers his home and confirms his connection to it.

All the dishes tasted nostalgic to me as well.

It's the taste of home!

Potato with sour cream.

In Belarus, President Lukashenko has had a grip on power for nearly 30 years.

In 2020, people protested against alleged electoral fraud, and many were arrested.

At that time, Iłla was already in Japan studying Japanese painting in graduate school.

He began producing illustrations in protest against the oppression.

These are drawings of the president naked.

By depicting him like this, Iłla wanted to suggest that the president is only a person like everyone else and there is no reason to fear him.

People's interest shifts very quickly.

Art is something that can bring people's focus back, or help the flame of interest to keep burning.

He has also opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and expressed his solidarity with the Ukrainian people through his work.

I was shocked by what happened on February 24th, and I don't want to be associated with it in any way.

It's not my fault, but I feel some kind of responsibility.

That's why I wanted to join the exhibition.

So, I'm trying to speak out and not be silent.

Finally, I asked him why he continues to send out messages at the risk of not being able to return to his homeland.

I have nothing to fear.

I'm ready for any consequence that may follow after this.

I want freedom in my country.

I just want people to live without having to think that they could be persecuted for their statements or their thoughts.

Even during difficult times, artists find the courage to speak up, hoping for a better future.

They show how we can use the strong power inside us to express that hope.

This is something I felt strongly from the artists I met.