Place of strength. Access is restricted

"Place of Strength. Access Restricted" is a painting project by Ukrainian artists Oleh Tistol and Valeria Troubina presented at Serpen Gallery in Berlin. Everyone has their own place of strength. Along with the war, though, this concept changed dramatically for Ukrainians. For some, a place of strength is their parents' home, filled with happy childhood memories. For others, it is the places they have been to on their travels that have given them a sense of fulfilment and happiness. Sadly, many of our favourite places are no longer accessible due to Russian aggression.

Over the past 10 years, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes and have been unable to visit their parents' graves in the occupied Crimea, Luhansk and Donbass regions. Entire cities, important cultural sites and villages have been destroyed. The war has made it impossible to move freely within the country or abroad. The…