This year marks 40 years since the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the largest man-made catastrophe in history, which affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of Belarusians for decades to come.
To mark the date, environmental organisations “Zialionaya Setka”, “Ecodom” and the Alliance “Green Belarus” have joined forces in a joint initiative — the campaign “After Chernobyl: 40 Days of Reflection on Health, Memory and the Future”, which will span dozens of cities around the world.
Reform.news’ “Cultural Front” has selected cultural initiatives from the extensive programme of events.
Vilnius: Reading of “Chernobyl Prayer”
One of the most notable events in the programme will be a reading of the work by Belarusian Nobel laureate Sviatlana Alexievich at the Mroj-Hall theatre. Taking the stage will be individuals whose own lives have become symbols of resilience: former political prisoners Natallia Dulina and Volha Takarchuk, activist Volha Pavuk, as well as professional actors. Monologues from the book by Sviatlana Alexievich will be performed in Belarusian, creating a connecting thread between the tragedy of the past and the trials of the present.
When: April 26, 18:00. Where: Mroj-Hall (Gedimino pr. 28).
Tbilisi: A Reflective Performance Based on “Chernobyl Prayer”
Director Nika Chikvaidze presents her interpretation of the renowned work by Sviatlana Alexievich. The production reflects on how a single moment can turn everyday life into an exclusion zone. The Griboedov Theatre promises audiences a deep immersion into the “Chernobyl world” through powerful acting and visual symbolism. The performance becomes an important point on the map of remembrance, connecting Belarusian and Georgian experiences of the catastrophe.
When: April 26, 20:00. Where: A. S. Griboedov Theatre (Rustaveli Ave., 2).
Zurich: Concert “Songs of Disappeared Villages”
Musician and ethnographer Siarzhuk Douhushau will bring a unique programme to Switzerland. These are songs collected during expeditions to resettled villages in the Homiel region. Archaic songs that could have disappeared along with contaminated land will gain new life.
When: April 26, 17:30. Where: Josefstrasse 102.
Warsaw: Charity Rave Event
The Belarus Outside Sound System collective is organising an event for those who reflect on memory through electronic culture and solidarity. The entire line-up consists of live electronic performances: Belarusian musicians will work exclusively with hardware instruments — synthesizers and modular systems — without using computers, creating a soundscape “here and now”.
The musical programme promises to be both meditative and intense: from drone ambient to experimental techno. Among the participants: I/DEX, Pocket Rave, kaini, SYNTRIG and mufer.
All proceeds will go to support political prisoners.
When: April 24, 23:30. Where: Klub Mechanik (ul. Narbutta 87).
Exhibition by Ksisha Angelava “Show Me Your Wound”
The artist works with the theme of collective trauma. Through 40 artworks, the project explores the existential horror of an “invisible enemy” — radiation and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
“I created the exhibition ‘Show Me Your Wound’ based on personal and family history, archival materials and my experience of working in contaminated areas. These are first-person narratives of people who remember the explosion, the silence of concealment and the need to evacuate from something ‘invisible’. Chernobyl is a catastrophe that reshaped our understanding of safety, because there is no hiding from the unknown”, the author says.
Where: Strasbourg (until April 26), Vilnius (opening on May 3 at the Belarusian Community Centre).
This is a poignant story of a 12-year-old girl from Prypiat who dreams of ballet but finds herself at the epicentre of a nuclear catastrophe. The film, which was nominated by Ukraine for the Academy Awards, tells the story of Aurora’s encounter with a world-famous ballet star in a clinic in the United States. It is a story about how even in the face of death, hope and art help people remain human. The film is directed by Oksana Bayrak.
The film will be screened in Vilnius, Klaipėda, Tallinn and Batumi.
For those ready to talk about difficult topics through the lens of irony, the “Thermonuclear Stand-up” will take place in Vilnius. This format offers a way to reflect on fears, stereotypes and our “nuclear” reality without excessive pathos, but with deep meaning.
When: April 27, 20:00. Where: Line Up (Geležinkelio g. 6).
The full programme of events can be viewed here.
It is also worth noting that organisers have prepared a useful health checklist, which will help monitor one’s condition taking into account the long-term effects of radiation.
It can be downloaded here.