On the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s attack on Poland on September 17 (1939), the Polish Institute in Beijing made available on its social media accounts (Weibo and WeChat) a unique exhibition entitled “Mom, I don’t want war!”
The exhibition presents drawings of Polish children created in 1946, who experienced the German occupation, and drawings of Ukrainian children created during the current armed conflict in Ukraine, in result of Russia’s aggression against that country. The exhibition shows a touching picture of the horrors of war seen through the eyes of a child, regardless of time and place. It therefore has a universal and timeless character. It is an anti-war manifesto which confronts the viewer with terror and tragedy of war.
The exhibition is available on a dedicated website: https://momidontwantwar.eu/en/index.php
The exhibition is part of a joint Polish-Ukrainian project “1939-45 POLSKA / 2022 UKRAINE” run by the Polish State Archives and “Mom I see war” project.
FIGHTING, OCCUPATION
1. Alicja Przytulska, kl. IV, Kalisz
2. Ryszard Skalski, kl. IV
3. Marko, 14 lat, Zimna Woda
4. Bogdan, 7 lat, Podhajce
FAMILY, REPRESSIONS
1. Jan Kaczmarek, kl. III, Dakowy Suche
2. Joanna Wczesna, kl. IV, Przygodzice
3. Anastazja, 13 lat, Kowel
4. Anna-Maria, 11 lat, Lwów
1. Władysław Bojko, kl. VII, Krzyż
2. Author unknown
3. Uliana, 13 lat, Krasnopawliwka
4. Sofia, 14 lat, Kramatorski
RESISTANCE, DESTRUCTION
1. Jadwiga Idzikowska, kl.IV
2. Bolesław Kazimierczak, kl. IV, Kalisz
1. Diana, 15 lat, Rudnytsia
2. Julia, 16 lat, Kijów
HOPE, VICTORY
