Traces of an apocalypse

A visual report from the first zone. Exhibition marking the 40th anniversary of Chornobyl

Stagnation, the past, danger. Forty years ago, the Chornobyl disaster changed the world. Today, the place is once again under threat: not only from radiation, but also from war. This exhibition presents photographic memories and voices of the ghosts from a place that once lived, fell silent and is now being shaken once again. But behind the ruins and the silence are also the faces of those who entered the zone back in 1986. Their work, their courage and their presence are part of a history that must not be forgotten.

Participating photographers and artists

Oleg Kutskiy (Odesa)
Photo series ‘Ghosts of Chornobyl’

Oleg Veklenko (Kharkiv)
Photographs and excerpts from the memoir ‘Chornobyl: Sketches from Life’

In cooperation with the International Kharkiv Triennial ‘4th Block’/ Competition 2026 ‘Chornobyl 40’, the nEUROPA Gallery is presenting 10 posters by students of the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts for the first time as part of the exhibition ‘Traces of an Apocalypse’.
Posters by Dmytro Miroshnichenko, Maria Sayenko, Milana Kochnova, Nadia Kiiko, Nataliia Kryvobok, Serafima Kabanets, Sergij Ianko, Sofia Katrich, Valeria Nikiforova

Curation

Elena Pagel and Iryna Guziy

Das Projekt wird gefördert durch das Staatsministerium für Soziales und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt. Diese Maßnahme wird mitfinanziert mit Steuermitteln auf Grundlage des vom Sächsischen Landtag beschlossenen Haushaltes im Rahmen des Förderprogramms »Wir für Sachsen«.

We want to put the nEUROPA gallery on a new basis – with a fresh new look, better equipment and a stronger team of volunteers! Our goal: €8,000 by 14 May 2026. Every contribution counts – big or small!