By Eddy van Wessel
On August 29 at 19:00, the Dovzhenko Center will open the photo exhibition “State of Will” — a visual reflection on war, resilience, and humanity.
The exhibition features the works of Dutch war photographer Eddy van Wessel, who has been documenting armed conflicts for over 30 years and, for the past three years, has focused primarily on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to the Dovzhenko Center, the exhibition will be complemented by public discussions on memory, narratives of resistance, the visual culture of war, and the role of art in shaping the future.
“Van Wessel’s style emphasizes deep humanity, focusing on people, their everyday lives amid catastrophe, their anxieties, care, routines, and emotions. ‘State of Will’ centers on Ukrainian civilians and soldiers who, despite losses and darkness, preserve their ability to feel, act, and stay united,” the center noted.
Admission on opening day is free, and afterward, tickets will be required. The exhibition will run at the Dovzhenko Center until November 2 and will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 to 19:00.
Additionally, on August 27 at 18:30, the bookstore “Zbirka” will host the presentation of Eddy van Wessel’s book “Ukraine — A Visual History of the First Three Years of the Great War.”
The exhibition is organized with the initiative and support of the Nationaal Militair Museum. The hosting institution is the Dovzhenko Center, while the curatorial work and project implementation were carried out by the museum company Amuseum. Project partners include the National Military History Museum of Ukraine and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.
