How can photography reveal the truth about war? In 2024, The Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans (OSF-WB), in collaboration with FotoEvidence Association, brought a travelling exhibition on the war in Ukraine. This underscores OSF-WB’s ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue, documenting war crimes, and raising awareness of the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. By bringing powerful visual storytelling to four major cities—Tirana, Prishtina, Skopje, and Belgrade—the exhibition engaged diverse audiences, reinforcing the urgency of justice, solidarity, and historical accountability.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
OSF-WB, in collaboration with the FotoEvidence Association, launched a traveling exhibition in 2024 to shed light on the realities of war in Ukraine. Through photography and visual testimony, the exhibition presented a powerful narrative of resilience, suffering, and courage, ensuring that the ongoing conflict remains in public consciousness. Each city provided a unique perspective and engagement, fostering critical discussions on media, justice, civil society, and the power of images in documenting war.

LOCAL IMPACT
At every stop, the exhibition provided a deeply immersive experience, allowing visitors to engage with the harrowing realities of the war in Ukraine. Through photography, discussions, and film screenings, it became a platform for reflection, advocacy, and solidarity.

In Tirana, the month-long exhibition emphasized the human cost of war, featuring a panel on media’s role in crisis and a screening of 20 Days in Mariupol, culminating in a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a regional Peace Summit. Moving to Prishtina, the exhibition sharpened its focus on justice and accountability, drawing high-profile political figures and human rights activists into discussions on war crimes documentation, reinforced by another screening of the documentary at Kino Armata.

In Skopje, the emphasis shifted to the power of visual testimony, attracting visitors from academia, the arts, and civil society to explore how photography can shape awareness and demand justice. The exhibition concluded with a film screening at the Museum of Contemporary Art, deepening reflections on the war’s impact. Finally, in Belgrade, the exhibition served as a call to solidarity, highlighting themes of resistance, love, and resilience. Launched in the presence of 140 guests, it reinforced the importance of keeping global attention on Ukraine’s struggle, even as the world’s focus shifts.

REGIONAL IMPACT
Through this initiative, OSF-WB amplifies the voices of those affected by war, ensuring that their suffering and resilience are neither ignored nor forgotten. By engaging civil society, media, and decision-makers, the exhibition contributes to a broader conversation on justice, truth, and the role of visual storytelling in confronting war crimes.