Traces of Presence*

Artist Note

Dovhenke is a village in Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast.

By lighting the lights in these houses, I wanted to give them hope that one day, life will return to them again.
Hope that someday, a song and a child's laughter will be heard within these walls again.
I hope that someday there will be people inside these walls again.
By lighting candles, I wanted to remember all those who died during this time.
All those who had to leave their homes.
All those who still cannot return home.
All those who have nowhere to return to.
By lighting the candles, I wanted light to reappear in this place. I wanted it to dispel the darkness.
Because we, Ukrainians, need to be the ones who light the light. We are the ones who dispel the darkness.
We are the light!