‘Exodus.Report’ Hosts Exhibit on Stories and Portraits of Ukrainian Refugees
By • October 27, 2025 0 243
By Mia Pech
The Free Peoples of Russia House hosted the opening of ‘Exodus.Report – Portraits and Stories of Ukrainian Refugees,’ a photography exhibit by Slovak artist Jana Rajcová, on October 26.
Rajcová photographed and interviewed 100 people who escaped the war and found safety in her homeland, Slovakia. For her, the camera is a tool for discovery, a pass into inner worlds and an instrument of change. “Exodus.Report,” the resulting project, is a socio-psychological documentary project. It reveals in 15 portraits and personal testimonies the experiences of Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion.
The exhibition space was quiet and reflective. Visitors moved slowly from portrait to portrait, pausing to read the stories behind each image. Some people shared their own or their family’s experiences. Others approached Rajcová, who was at the opening, directly, asking about her process and the people she met.
Every image tells a story. There is Illa, 64, who has fled war twice in her lifetime. She spent three days on the road to safety and still worries for her daughter who remained in Ukraine. Andriy, 23, escaped with his younger brother after the death of their parents. Marina, 37, fled with her two daughters.
And then there is Mikola, 70, who carries only a folded wedding photo, which is the last link to the life he lost. Widowed and now raising his grandson alone, he vows to keep working to provide for him.
Rajcová’s portraits give the war’s survivors a voice and face. They remind viewers that behind every headline is a person whose life has been changed forever. It invites viewers not to look away, but to see.
The exhibition remains open until January 26, 2026 at the Free Peoples of Russia House.
Photos by Mia Pech.
