On May 10 a virtual reality exhibition War Up Close and Arts that has already been showcased across North America and Europe will take place in Nelson.
War Up Close is a unique digital project that combines an interactive platform documenting the realities of war with a VR exhibition that has been travelling the world for almost three years, sharing the truth about Ukraine’s ongoing struggle.
This project aims to preserve historical memory, support academic research, and engage the international community in understanding the scale of the tragedy and the heroism of the Ukrainian people.
“Our photos do not depict dead bodies or blood. Instead, panoramic images and drone footage capture the destruction of cities, schools, museums, and hospitals — clear evidence of Russian crimes on our land. This exhibition aims to help the world understand the scale of the catastrophe and the genocide of the Ukrainian nation," says Olena Heichenko, co-ordinator of the War Up Close project in Canada.
The exhibition in Nelson will be attended by Mykola Omelchenko, one of the War Up Close project organizers and a photojournalist. He is also the first Google Trusted Photographer in Ukraine. Despite the constant danger, he and his team risk their lives to capture the brutal reality of Russia’s crimes against Ukraine.
"At our recent exhibition in Castlegar, I heard from a visitor, 'Through the virtual reality headset, I witnessed beautiful places and cities — before and after their devastation. For the first time, I could physically feel the horror that Russia is bringing upon Ukraine. This should never happen anywhere in the world," said Heichenko.
Part of the exhibition will also feature artworks by children from the Sunflower Dreams Project. Each piece is a small story of children who lived in these destroyed homes in the war-torn east and south, now living as refugees in their own land, in Lviv, Ukraine.
The event takes place May 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Finley's Bar and Grill.
