Opening of the immersive exhibition “(In)visible Women”
“It’s been a year since my brother went missing. And I still can’t wrap my head around it. ‘Missing’ — it sounds like something temporary. As if he’s going to come back, since there’s no news. When they called me, I don’t even remember what I felt. It was as if someone had turned off the sound, something like white noise. And then his comrades brought his belongings…”
There are stories that are indescribable. They are about waiting, about exhaustion, about despair. This experience is not easy, but it is important to hear it.
Today, representatives of the ICF “Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health” attended the opening of the immersive exhibition “(IN)Visible Women,” organized by the NGO La Strada-Ukraine. During the opening, actors presented the real stories of women who are right beside us every day: walking the same streets, working, raising children, smiling. And yet, they are living through an experience that often remains invisible. The exhibition’s format combines theatrical performance, video, audio, and photo installations.
The stories of women waiting for their husbands to return from war, of those with loved ones missing in action, and of women caring for the wounded should be heard in society not as exceptions, but as an important part of our shared reality.
Speaking openly about these experiences is important for several reasons. First, it brings visibility back to those who often remain “behind the scenes” of war. Second, it helps society better understand the complexity and depth of war’s consequences not only on the front lines, but also within families and communities. Third, it creates space for support: when an experience is named and heard, the opportunity arises to respond to it systematically.
the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy Kateryna Levchenko , noted: “The fact that we can use various means—music, poetry, photography, visual and theatrical arts—to express our thoughts or positions is an important asset for the women’s movement, civil society organizations, and society as a whole. We need to step outside our bubble and convey these messages to a wider audience.”
Supporting women who are living in a state of waiting and uncertainty is society’s necessary response to the consequences of war.
If you need support, if you need someone to listen to you, please reach out for help:
La Strada Hotline – 0 800 500 335 (from a mobile or landline), 116 123 (from a mobile)
Online platform Safewomenhub – 066 900 45 69, 066 900 40 18
