“Unveiled Ukraine” — Art Exhibition and Public Discussions at the Oodi

Dates: 9–11 May 2025 | Time: 13:00–19:00 | Venue: Helsinki Central Library Oodi, 2nd floor, AURA | Admission: Free

The Helsinki Central Library Oodi will host the powerful and deeply moving exhibition “Unveiled Ukraine” from 9 to 11 May 2025. This multi-layered artistic project by Ukrainian sociologist and photographer Kateryna Mostova combines documentary and artistic photography, video, and personal stories of individuals from Crimea and Donbas who were forced to flee their homes following the outbreak of Russian aggression in 2014.

The exhibition’s aim is to uncover the true face of war — to depict broken lives, devastated cities, and lost worlds. Through striking visual imagery and authentic testimonies, “Unveiled Ukraine” opens a conversation about pain, loss, human rights violations and the inhumane violence inflicted upon Ukraine. It is a project of memory and truth, resonating deeply with the ongoing Ukrainian reality.

The event is organized with the support of Aila Asikainen and includes a series of public discussions hosted by the Ukrainian Association in Finland.

Friday, 9 May

14:30. Official Opening. Opening words by MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen, Chairman of the Ukrainian Association in Finland Vassili Goutsoul, and the exhibition author Kateryna Mostova

15:00. Guided tour of the exhibition by the author

17:00-19:00 – Lecture and discussion: “Ukraine as Part of European Memory: War, Displacement, and Solidarity” Organized by the Ukrainian Association in Finland. Event in English.

• War Refugees: An essential dimension of the European  memory culture. Professor Henrik Meinander, University of Helsinki 
• Fate of Karelian evacuees. Professor Martti Talja, chairperson of The Finnish Karelian League 
• Language as a Carrier of Memory and Identity: The Role of Ukrainian During War and Displacement. Mariia Zhyhurt, teacher of Ukrainian language and culture at the Tampere Summer University, board member at the Ukrainian Association in Tampere. 

Discussion. Moderator Arseniy Svynarenko, PhD, researcher at the Finnish Youth Research Society and volunteer at The Ukrainian Association in Finland.

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Saturday, 10 May

13:00–15:00 Lecture and discussion  (UA): “Ukraine’s Liberation Struggle in the 20th–21st Centuries as a Path to Peace in Europe / Визвольна боротьба України у XX–XXI століттях як шлях до миру в Європі”  Organized by the Ukrainian Association in Finland. Event in Ukrainian.

• Український Пласт в національно-визвольній боротьбі України. Олександр Костюк, волонтер, Пласт у Фінляндії  
• Українська Гельсінська група в боротьбі за європейські цінності. Олександр Яроцький, вчитель історії, волонтер Товариства українців у Фінляндії
• Загрози фінляндизації. Олексій Приходько, перекладач, голова правління Товариства українців в Форссі
• Роль української мови під час Другої світової війни та під час повномасштабного вторгнення у 2022 році. Марія Жигурт, викладачка української мови та культури в Літньому університеті Тампере, волонтерка та членкиня правління Товариства українців м. Тампере

Дискусія

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15:00–18:00 Exhibition “Unveiled Ukraine” with the author’s guided tour.

15:00–18:00 — Exhibition and guided tour

Sunday, 11 May

13:00–15:00 — Exhibition and guided tour

If you or your friends are in Helsinki, we warmly invite you to visit this meaningful event.

Admission is free.