Ukrainian journalist and artist Lyudmila Makei organized a personal charity exhibition. Part of the funds went to help Melitopol residents.
“Flowers Against War” is the name of the exhibition of paintings dedicated to the International Refugee Day. It was held in the gallery Lapidarium – a branch of the National Historical Museum of the capital of Kosovo, the city of Pristina.
Lyudmila Makei is the first Ukrainian journalist who arrived in Pristina in April 2022 as part of the Kosovo Residency program. It is implemented jointly by the German organization European Center for Freedom of the Press and Information, the Government of Kosovo and the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and Kosovo. Before the war, Lyudmila lived in the city of Kropivnitsky and for many years was the editor of the First City newspaper.
Drawing for Lyudmila is a hobby that she became interested in in her adult life in the course of numerous interviews and meetings with people of art. In Kosovo, this outlet has also become useful.
Living abroad, Lyudmila not only continues to engage in journalism, but also tries to help Ukraine. She spends almost all of her fees on charity.
– In Pristina, I met a unique person – the director of the Kosovo Center for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, Feride Rushiti. She dedicated her life to restoring the honor and dignity of the Kosovar women, who suffered sexual violence during the war. We met several times, and during one of the meetings, I involuntarily remembered my hobby, drawing. Soon I received a gift from the director of KRCT – Kosova Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims: paints, brushes, canvases. It radically changed my life, – says Lyudmila.
Thus, an exhibition of paintings with flowers was born, which are a symbol of Ukraine and its revival. And with it, the idea to help Ukrainian journalists who are in trouble with their art.
Visitors to the exhibition from Kosovo, Georgia, Spain, Japan, Turkey, who came to see the paintings during the week, expressed support for Ukraine. Moreover, 10 out of 20 paintings found their owners.
– I will transfer the proceeds from the sale to the Zaporozhye Center for Journalistic Solidarity to support Irina Levchenko, who is in Russian captivity, – Lyudmila Makei told the editors of RIA-Pivden.
Recall, Irina Levchenko, together with her husband Alexander, was captured by Russian invaders on May 6. On that day, according to eyewitnesses, she was seen on the street surrounded by Russian soldiers. According to Irina’s sister Elena, since then there has been no contact with her and her husband, and it is not known in which prison they are being held.
2023-06-28 08:46:00
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