At the closing event of Natalya Dovbysh’s exhibition in Odessa, funds were raised for a defender of Ukraine

<span><span><span><span><span><span>On July 26, the closing ceremony for Natalya Dovbysh’s photo exhibition “The Museum in Time and Beyond” took place in the courtyard of the Odessa Archaeological Museum. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The funds raised at the event through the charitable sale of the artist’s photographs will go toward supporting our colleague, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Journalists from Intenta attended the event. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

Throughout the full-scale war, Natalya Dovbysh has been capturing moments from life in Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa through her photographs. Her photos include the Odesa Archaeological Museum, which also sustained damage from shelling. The photos depict the stages of preserving exhibits, packing priceless collections, empty display cases, as well as the aftermath of Russian strikes, which also damaged the institution’s historic building itself. 

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Rostislav Baklazhenko (“Fire Hydrant”), an Odessa-based musician, songwriter, and performer,</span></span></span></span></span></span> also performed at the closing event<span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Natalia Dovbysh’s exhibition</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> “Museum in Time and Beyond”</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> was</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> first</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> held in 2025. At that time, the artist presented about 40 photographs</span></span></span></span></span></span>taken between 2022 and 2025. 

Earlier,an onlinepresentation of Yevheniia Genova’s book “TheyChose Ukraine” took place. The work, which will be published soon, explores the realities of life for children and adolescents amid military operations, occupation, and deportation. 

The author sheds light on a rarelyseen aspect ofwar—genocide aimedat destroying the generational memory and identity of future generations. The book tells the stories of children who have found themselves in foreign countries where no one is waiting for them, where they are strangers, and where they are told that their past is wrong and must be forgotten. As the author notes, in such circumstances, one must be very strong to avoid breaking down and to preserve the memory of one’s past, family, and national identity. 

Юлія Калабайда