EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – A new photography exhibit at Michigan State University is asking the community to reflect on the ongoing war in Ukraine four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The exhibit, “Ukraine: War and Resistance,” opened Tuesday inside Snyder Hall and features documentary images taken by American and Ukrainian Fulbright alumni, capturing daily life in Ukraine during the war.
“Is the war still going? Yes, it’s still going, and Ukrainians are killed every day,” said organizer Anna Smolko, a Fulbright scholar and member of MSU’s Ukrainian community.
Smolko said the exhibit highlights a wide range of experiences, from love and childhood loss to sacrifice. She says the goal of this presentation is to make people feel different emotions, “from excitement to sadness, to grief, but the main one is proud. Proud that Ukraine is still fighting,” she added.
The exhibit also resonated with visitors who have personal ties to Europe. MSU employee Kenneth Herrema said he was living in Poland near the Ukrainian border when the invasion began in 2022.
“We saw firsthand just the large number of people leaving,” Herrema said. “Seeing the situations that this has forced normal people into, having to make those tough decisions, to like take up arms, to defend themselves.
Tuesday’s opening night included a virtual reality experience allowing visitors to explore war-damaged Ukrainian cities in real-time. It will remain on display through March, with organizers working to extend its stay. The Fulbright Program also encourages universities nationwide to host the exhibit locally.
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