Dajemy głos tym, którzy już nie mogą mówić

Fear and pain are emotions that have been my companions for besides long. I am an immigrant artist, and I long to feel something another than these burdensome feelings. My work is simply a bleeding consequence to the failure of freedom, home, and humanity.

My art reflects not only individual experiences but besides broad social issues specified as oppression and human rights violations. Thus, by creating socio-political art, I express not only my pain and fear but besides effort to be the voice of those who can no longer speak.

My home, Belarus, has become a large prison, presently holding 1,400 political prisoners. More than 2,000 people have suffered from inhumane treatment within its walls. There are no free media and no civilian society organizations. Those who spoke out against the dictatorship in 2020 are now marked with yellow tags, isolated, and deprived of basic necessities specified as hygiene products and eyeglasses. They are even forbidden from speaking with another prisoners, condemning them to years of complete solitude. Men and women in detention centers are subjected to the horrors of violence, including rape. Activists like Maria Kalesnikava are tortured with starvation simply due to the fact that they have become symbols of protest. Maria presently weighs 45 kilograms. These events make us question: can we talk about the diversity and beauty of nationalities erstwhile the Belarusian nationality and language are on the brink of extinction?

The number of dictatorships in the planet is increasing. Repressions have started in Azerbaijan, akin to the early stages in Belarus, where there is simply a purge of voices that advocated for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. My friend and ally, Bahruz Samadov, was arrested for his peaceful calls and criticism of the dictatorship. His sympathetic voice for peace has turned into a threat of life imprisonment. Bahruz is simply a well-known expert on the South Caucasus region, who has been publically advocating for a peace agreement with Armenia for years. He is simply a postgraduate of the Central European University and is simply a PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague. My last message sent to him remains unread. Not knowing when, or if ever, he will be able to read it, I feel immense pain.

We live in a planet where the number of dictatorships is increasing, with events in Belarus and Azerbaijan being just 2 examples among many. It is hard to combat force and cruelty through art, but our peaceful protest shows that we adhere to European values and value human life above all.

My art becomes my means of opposition and hope to be heard. The themes of emigration and failure of freedom, though seemingly tiresome to the global community, are not just “themes” – they are real human stories. These are lives that deserve to be heard. Through my art, I aim to draw attention to these stories, to remind us of the foundations of humanism on which European society is built, and to ask: are we truly delicate to the pain of others? Belarus, Azerbaijan and many another countries have lost their voice. Who is next?

I compose this article with large hope that my art, bleeding from pain and fear, will find resonance. According to the explanation of art, which states that art should rise questions, foster empathy, and facilitate social change, exhibition viewers face uncomfortable questions about solidarity, humanism and sensitivity to others’ pain. But possibly it is time to show it in life.

We live in times erstwhile sensitivity seems rare, and the ability to love is almost a revolutionary act. Nevertheless, these qualities make us human. In conclusion, the art I make is simply a protest against the “total purge” cleaning the planet of delicate and loving people. This is my way of showing my love and sensitivity.

Darya (Cemra) Siamchuk is simply a Belarusian artist in exile, presently based in Warsaw. Her work has been exhibited throughout the region. Learn more at: https://cemra.art/