Exhibition “Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma” Opens in Kyiv
Kyiv, Ukraine — September 29, 2026
The Youth Agency for Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA,” the National Historical and Memorial Preserve “Babyn Yar,” and Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture invite you to the opening of the exhibition “Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma,” which will take place on September 29, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. in the lobby of KNUCA at 31 Povitrianykh Syl Avenue, Kyiv.
The exhibition explores the memory of the Roma genocide in Ukraine through the personal experiences of Roma survivors, addressing memory, persecution, and the search for identity. It brings together memories of historical trauma with stories of contemporary Roma communities, emphasizing resilience, visibility, and the contribution of Roma people to Ukraine’s cultural and civic life.
“It is easy to tell a story, but difficult to live through it.”
— Raisa Andriichenko, Roma woman, survivor and witness of the Roma genocide, Ukraine
“Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma” is a thematic and narrative exhibition about restoring visibility. Once silenced, Roma voices today speak boldly, clearly, and with a claim to equality. At the heart of the exhibition is Roma identity as a form of resistance, traced throughout history — from persecution during the Roma genocide in World War II to the strength, visibility, and civic engagement of Roma communities in Ukraine today, amid the ongoing struggle for justice in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Through testimonies of Roma genocide survivors, archival materials, and contemporary artistic media, the exhibition shows the transformation of silence into voice, trauma into strength, and invisibility into presence. These are stories not only of survival in the past but also of shaping the future.
Opening Program
12:00 p.m.—Opening ceremony of the exhibition “Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma”
Official remarks, curator presentations, and invited speakers.
Venue
Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture
31 Povitrianykh Syl Avenue, Kyiv
Exhibition Dates
September 29 – October 31, 2026
Opening Hours
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–17:00 p.m.
Admission to the opening and related events is free.
To attend the exhibition opening, please register by September 28, 2026:
About the Exhibition
The exhibition begins with the historical context: documentary evidence of the Roma genocide in Ukraine during World War II. Archival photographs, documents, and recorded testimonies of survivors reveal a little-known and long-silenced chapter of history. Personal stories, video testimonies, and illustrations allow Roma people who experienced persecution to speak directly to the viewer.
These materials not only document the systematic violence and displacement experienced by Roma communities, but also highlight the emotional and cultural wounds left by the genocide. This memory — living and testified to — forms the foundation of the exhibition and serves as a key means of restoring dignity and recognition to those who were made invisible.
The exhibition also presents the perspectives of contemporary Roma artists: representatives of the second and third generations of Roma whose families experienced the genocide during World War II. They reflect on intergenerational trauma and the consequences of the erasure of identity.
The digital works of Nataliia Tomenko are deeply personal visual reflections on fear, survival, and resilience. She does not simply document these experiences, but brings viewers into the psychological and emotional space of memory, building bridges between the past and the present. Together with an animated short film, these works allow audiences to experience a living legacy that shapes contemporary Roma identity and a sense of belonging.
In its final section, the exhibition turns to the present. Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Maksymov presents a series of dynamic collages depicting Roma members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine currently serving in the military, as well as cultural and civic figures. These works draw attention to the contemporary struggle for dignity, visibility, and the inclusion of Roma people in Ukrainian society.
Against the backdrop of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Maksymov’s portraits pay tribute to Roma citizens who challenge marginalization, actively participate in civic life, and advocate for justice. The final section of the exhibition connects the resilience of the past with the energy of the contemporary Roma movement, emphasizing that Roma history is not only a history of suffering, but also a history of strength, continuity, and creating the future.
Team
Curators: Nataliia Tomenko, Chinara Madjidova, Volodymyr Yakovenko
Historical Consultant: Mykhailo Tiaglyi
Partners
The exhibition was created by the Youth Agency for Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA” in partnership with the National Historical and Memorial Preserve “Babyn Yar” and the Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies, with the support of the Embassy of Germany in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.
Press and Partnership Contacts
Youth Agency for Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA”
Email: [email protected]
Official Website and Social Media
ARCA – Youth Agency for Advocacy of Roma Culture
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YNGO.ARCA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arca_org
The exhibition “Invisible. Resilience: The Past and Present of Roma” is part of broader efforts to restore Roma history to Ukrainian and European public memory, support the visibility of Roma communities, and foster public dialogue about memory, dignity, and cultural continuity in contemporary Ukraine.