Artists to Russia: ‘Our Fire Is Stronger Than Your Bombs’

Artists to Russia: ‘Our Fire Is Stronger Than Your Bombs’

Jenya Polosina and Anna Ivanenko are Ukrainian artists. After Russia invaded their country, they decided¹ to use their skills to push back against the war.

Polosina and Ivanenko worked with other artists in the early days of the war, which began in February of 2022. The group worked together in bomb shelters in Kyiv. Sometimes the artists worked without electricity and water.

Some of their art is on display in the northeastern U.S. state of New Hampshire. The show is called "Our Fire Is Stronger Than Your Bombs." The show opened last week at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Manchester.

Polosina, Ivanenko and six other Ukrainian artists provided 20 pieces of art to the show.

Artwork from Ivanenko show children studying in a bomb shelter and Ukrainians fleeing the country soon after the war started.

Artwork from Polosina honors a Ukrainian female gymnast and a young mathematician². Both were among those who have been killed by Russian missile strikes.

Before the war, Polosina produced artwork for books and advertising³ that dealt with human rights issues. She created artwork for Ukraine's largest LGBTQ rights event, KyivPride. Ivanenko also did book and advertising projects.

But the two quickly changed their work to center on the war. They shared their creations on social media. The artwork has become part of a growing online effort to draw attention around the world to Russia's war with Ukraine.

Ivanenko described how she was "charged with rage" and a "desire to stop the war, stop the aggressions." So her artwork is her effort to help "in a small way."

Polosina said being able to show the Ukrainian artists' work in New Hampshire "is very important for us because this is almost direct communication with viewers outside of Ukraine that can see our reflections, that can see our feelings and be more sympathetic."

Words in This Story

display – n. put somewhere for people to see

gymnast – n. a person who performs various physical exercises on a mat or on special equipment as part of an athletic⁴ competition

LGBTQ – n. initials used to describe the minority group that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people

rage – n. a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control

reflection – n. an opinion that you form or a remark that you make after carefully thinking about something

sympathetic – adj. having or showing support for or approval of something

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 mathematician   

n.数学家

参考例句：

• The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
• The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。

3 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

4 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。