Each day, gruesome news and pictures reach us from Ukraine. There is a war in Europe. Millions of people are fleeing from the Russian army.

Two members of the Ostkreuz photography agency, Johanna-Maria Fritz and Mila Teshaieva, are in Ukraine since the large-scale war started. Their contributions to the exhibition show us what people are fleeing from. Since the beginning of March, Ostkreuz photographers are portraying those who are on the run. In short texts, refugees tell their personal stories.

»After the Escape« wants to set a stage for Ukrainian people. We want to invite artists and performers from Ukraine to a series of events at Zionskirche Berlin. The project was founded as a reaction and is continually shapeshifting as it’s going along. We want to listen, to learn, to be committed.

A forum for encounters
Zionskirche Berlin has a storied past. During the former GDR era, it offered shelter for people who didn’t want to or who could not flee their country. The Zionskirche was an important place for the democracy movement in the former GDR. Now, for four weeks until its renovation begins, the church opens its doors for a new forum for encounters.

Further information:
vitsche.org | february24.net

»Records of war« is a publishing project led by an editorial team of displaced Ukrainians who collect and translate diaries and personal memories of people directly affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. Please consider supporting the project by donating directly. All donations are distributed among the authors as flat fees, while the editorial team works voluntarily.

Framework program

Sunday, May 8, 2022, 7 pm
Performances »Golosinnya« & »Non verba«
»Golosinnya« (engl. lamentation) is curated by Serafima Brig and Eva Yakubovska from the Vitsche organization. The event consists of two performances:
»Non verba« by Maryana Danchenko reflects upon the idiomatic expression of »I have no words« regarding the horrors of war. The project provides a platform for the current feelings of Ukrainians, and what they felt during World War II. The performance is based on an interview with a woman, who survived a Nazi forced labour camp.
Bohdan Moroz’s performance »Lament« (Golosinnya in Ukrainian) is inspired by the Ukrainian tradition of lamentations for the dead. The work is an attempt to reflect on the horrors and pain, which the Ukraine is facing. It is a threnody for the people, who are brutally murdered by Russian soldiers. The original lament embedded in the performance is addressed to mothers.
The performance takes place at Zionskirche on the occasion of Mother’s Day on May 8th. That is one day before parts of the former Soviet Union celebrate the victory over Nazi Germany – the so called »Victory Day«.

Saturday, May 14, 2022, 7 pm
Reading
Held in German.
Lesung: Tagebuch der Evakuierung von Kateryna Jakowlenko Gespräch mit Angelina Kariakina (Chefredakteurin der Nachrichtenredaktion „Suspilne“, dem ukrainischen öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunksender, Kyjiw), Florian Bachmeier (Fotograf, München), moderiert von Susanne Strätling (Professorin für Allgemeine und Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft mit Schwerpunkt Slawische Literatur an der Freien Universität Berlin) und übersetzt von Frank Thomas. Die Veranstaltung wird in deutscher Sprache stattfinden.
Details

Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 7 pm
Roundtable Discussion
Held in German.
Details

Saturday, May 28, 2022, 7 pm
Concert
Details

For additional forthcoming framework events & details please visit ostkreuz.de/neues

May 6 — June 6, 2022
Opening Reception: Friday, May 6, 6 pm
+ Framework program: please see above

Zionskirche Berlin

Zionskirchplatz, 10119 Berlin
[District: Mitte | Borough: Mitte]

Opening hours: Mon – Sat 2 – 6 pm, Sun 12 – 4 pm

Admission free