The exhibition But I Am Still Alive. Voices from Ukraine (…Ma io sono vivo, voci dall’Ucraina), dedicated to the experience of war and the power of life in Ukraine, attracted significant attention. Over six days, it was visited by about 12,000 people, including not only Italians but also guests from various countries in Europe and around the world. This was reported on Facebook by the exhibition’s co-organiser, Oleksiy Sihov.
Among the visitors were Patriarch Bartholomew, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the President of the European Parliament, the Italian Minister for European Affairs, other members of the government, political leaders, journalists, doctors, teachers, priests and students.
The exhibition offered not only photos, videos and texts, but also hour-long tours with trained guides who helped visitors immerse themselves in the vivid stories of the war.
“We wanted to convey that the war unleashed by Russia is taking place in the very heart of Europe – in a political, value-based and civilisational sense. The Russian regime hates any place where people defend life, dignity and freedom,” the organisers noted.
The curators of the exhibition emphasised that the crimes against humanity committed by Russia in Ukraine are not accidental and will continue if Ukraine is not supported. At the same time, the project demonstrates that Ukraine is not a helpless victim, but a centre of European resistance, active life, volunteering, culture, innovation and civic unity.
The visual symbol of the exhibition was a photograph by Dmytro Kozatskyy, which accompanied the project throughout the festival.