A commemorative cultural event by VATAHA Foundation dedicated to the third anniversary of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.
Rotterdam | 22 February 2025
The Hague | 23 February 2025
The VATAHA Foundation presents Lost voices, Unbroken spirit: An Art Route, a two-day cultural and memorial event in Rotterdam and The Hague. Through poetry, music, film, exhibitions, and participatory art, this event honors Ukrainian resilience, culture, and the memory of those lost due to war.
All events are free, but some require advance registration. You can find the detailed program and registration links below the map overview.
Rotterdam | 22 February 2025
📍 DOKhuis (Doklaan 10, 3087 CB Rotterdam)
15:00-18:00 | Social Art Project: Carpet of Love and Sorrow
free registration required
Join a participatory war memorial by weaving red and black braids to honor those affected by the war. Red represents those still enduring, while black symbolizes those who have passed. The completed carpet will be displayed at Dam Square, Amsterdam, and aims to set a Guinness World Record. This project supports education for Ukrainian orphans.
19:00-21:00 | Poetry and Music Performance: Shoulder to Shoulder, Voice to Voice
free registration required
VATAHA Foundation and Spaces Collective
Тhis event invites reflection on the shared values and experiences that unite Ukrainian and Dutch communities in times of crisis.
Through poetry, prose, and music, Ukrainian and Dutch creatives explore questions of resilience, solidarity, and mutual support. The 1.5-hour performance will weave together Ukrainian, Dutch, and English voices to deliver a shared message: our unity and strength will endure for as long as needed.
📍 Wijkpaleis (Claes de Vrieselaan 72, 3021 JS Rotterdam)
16:00-17:30 | Film Screening: Warning! Life Goes On (2023) by Anton Shtuka
Screening of a poignant documentary that follows a street artist from Kharkiv as he travels to the recently liberated city of Izium, just 60 km from the front lines. The artist paints his works on the streets of this war-torn city, interacting with locals who have been deeply affected by the Russian occupation. One such local is Volodymyr, who lost half of his family in a building collapse. Inspired by the artist’s work, Volodymyr begins to transform his own life. This unique film offers an intimate portrait of a city destroyed by occupation, told through the stories of its residents and the philosophical reflections of the street artist.
15:00-18:00 | Pop-up Photo Exhibition: February 1097, 2025* curated by Christian van der Kooy
This pop-up exhibition marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, showcasing unseen moments from Ukrainian life captured in Ukraine and the Netherlands. The works reflect how young Ukrainians—despite war and trauma—continue to create as an act of survival.
Featured projects:
- Horlivka – A reflection on home by Maksym and Ivan Frolov from the temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast.
- Regeneration Generation – A chronicle of Kharkiv’s DRUK, a wartime safe space for art and culture.
- Contradictive Reality – Analog photography by participants of VATAHA’s Teen Art Club (originally curated by Nicole Katenkari at Fotomuseum Den Haag)
15:00-18:00 | Interactive Art Installation: The Net of Remembrance
An installation dedicated to those lost in the war. Participants write the names of loved ones on pieces of white cloth and weave them into a net as an act of collective mourning and healing. The installation travels across the Netherlands, growing as a living memorial
📍 Ukrainian House (Pleinweg 196A, 3083 EV Rotterdam)
13:00-14:00 | Opening of Children’s Art Exhibition: Through Their Eyes: Kids’ Art on War and Ukraine’s Future
This exhibition presents a heartfelt collection of drawings from Drohobych Children’s Art School and municipal shelters in Rotterdam and the region, offering a glimpse into the experiences and emotions of children living through war.
Through art, these children express their fears, hopes, and dreams in the face of unimaginable hardship. Their works are a powerful reminder of the resilience of the youngest victims of war and a call for peace and unity.
The Hague | 23 February 2025
📍 Andries Bickerweg 2 (2517 JP The Hague)
13:00-16:00 | Film Screening: People of Steel (2024) by S. Fomenko
A documentary by musician Serhii Fomenko, telling the story of the heroic defenders of Mariupol. The film highlights their courage and draws attention to the urgent call for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war. This screening also honors filmmakers and artists who have lost their lives or are imprisoned due to the war.
📍 Carnegieplein 2 (2517 KJ The Hague)
13:00-16:00 | Social Art Project: Carpet of Love and Sorrow
Join a participatory war memorial by weaving red and black braids to honor those affected by the war. Red represents those still enduring, while black symbolizes those who have passed. The completed carpet will be displayed at Dam Square, Amsterdam, and aims to set a Guinness World Record. This project supports education for Ukrainian orphans.
📍 Lange Voorhout 10 (2514 ED The Hague)
15:30 | Concert: Echoes of Resilience by Maryana Golovchenko, Edmond Fokker
A powerful musical tribute in front of the British Embassy, dedicated to Ukrainian musicians lost during the war. Featuring Maryanna Golovchenko (vocals), Edmond Fokker (violin)
The British Embassy was chosen as a symbol of the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine. This concert honors musicians who have taken up arms to defend their homeland, many of whom will never again share their music.
📍 Lange Voorhout (2514 ED The Hague)
13:00-16:00 | Interactive Art Installation: The Net of Remembrance
An installation dedicated to those lost in the war. Participants write the names of loved ones on pieces of white cloth and weave them into a net as an act of collective mourning and healing. The installation travels across the Netherlands, growing as a living memorial
📍 Bleijenburg 3B (2511 VC The Hague)
17:00-19:00 | Poetry and Music Performance: Shoulder to Shoulder, Voice to Voice
free registration required
VATAHA Foundation and Spaces Collective
Тhis event invites reflection on the shared values and experiences that unite Ukrainian and Dutch communities in times of crisis.
Through poetry, prose, and music, Ukrainian and Dutch creatives explore questions of resilience, solidarity, and mutual support. The 1.5-hour performance will weave together Ukrainian, Dutch, and English voices to deliver a shared message: our unity and strength will endure for as long as needed.
17:00-20:00 | Pop-up Photo Exhibition: February 1097, 2025* curated by Christian van der Kooy
This pop-up exhibition marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, showcasing unseen moments from Ukrainian life captured in Ukraine and the Netherlands. The works reflect how young Ukrainians—despite war and trauma—continue to create as an act of survival.
Featured projects:
- Horlivka – A reflection on home by Maksym and Ivan Frolov from the temporarily occupied Donetsk Oblast.
- Regeneration Generation – A chronicle of Kharkiv’s DRUK, a wartime safe space for art and culture.
- Contradictive Reality – Analog photography by participants of VATAHA’s Teen Art Club (originally curated by Nicole Katenkari at Fotomuseum Den Haag)
This series of events is a collaboration between VATAHA Foundation, Ukrainian and Dutch artists, and cultural organizations. Lost voices, Unbroken spirit: An Art Route reflects on the destruction of Ukrainian culture and the perseverance of its people.