The Odyssey of Artistry

“Journeys of Luminary Unveiled Resilience: The Odyssey of Artistry” is an artistic photography project that aims to portray the stories of five artists from diverse refugee backgrounds. This project focuses on capturing the resilience, strength, and creativity of these individuals as they navigated their journey from displacement to safety. By showcasing the artists through their narrative art, the project highlights their ability to shape their own narratives and reclaim their identities through artistic expression.

Tetiana Shlapak

An Ukranian photographer with more than 10 years of experience in different type of photography. Tetiana woke up one day to an invasion in her country where she had to flee away with her daughter to Belgium. She became a kind of a single mother and faced the world alone. Here is her 10 stations:

Station 1: THE INVASION

February 24, 2022, marked a somber milestone in Tetiana’s life, a moment where the world seemed to tilt irreversibly. As Russian airstrikes tore through the skies, Tetiana clung tightly to her child, a beacon of solace amidst the chaos. In the face of fear, love became their refuge, a steadfast anchor in uncertain times.

Station 2: The Departure

With the weight of impending displacement heavy upon her, Tetiana faced the daunting task of packing for an uncertain journey. In the cruel calculus of war, belongings were shed like burdensome skin, leaving only memories and essentials behind. Among the few possessions deemed worthy of the journey, Tetiana chose her camera—a vessel for preserving moments of beauty amidst the turmoil.

Station 3: The Arrival to Brussels

After a grueling odyssey across half of Europe, Tetiana and her daughter found refuge in Brussels, greeted by the warmth of compassionate strangers. Yet, amidst the comfort of shelter and hospitality, the specter of an uncertain future loomed large, shrouding their hopes in a fog of doubt as thick as the steam of their first hot shower in days.

Station 4: Appreciation and Dissatisfaction

Grateful for the kindness bestowed upon them yet disquieted by their dependence on charity, Tetiana found herself torn between gratitude and a restless yearning for autonomy. Accustomed to forging her own path, she felt the pull of creativity beckoning her back to her true calling, longing to once again capture life’s essence through the lens of her camera.

Station 5: The Disappointment

Amidst the trials of displacement, Tetiana encountered setbacks that tested her resilience to its limits. The loss of her camera to thieves on a train to Amsterdam dealt a devastating blow, stripping her of not just a possession but a vital tool for her craft. Adrift without her artistic anchor, she grappled with disillusionment, struggling to find her footing in a world turned upside down.

Station 6: Faith

In the depths of despair, a glimmer of hope emerged as a crowdfunding campaign rallied support from Ukrainian communities near and far, gifting Tetiana a new camera and a renewed sense of purpose. Emboldened by the outpouring of solidarity, she resolved to reclaim her narrative, allowing her art to transcend adversity and speak volumes in its silence.

Station 7: Slow Small Steps but Forward

Armed with newfound determination, Tetiana embarked on a journey of self-renewal, inching forward one hesitant step at a time. Each small victory—a new city, a new home, a fresh start on social media—served as a testament to her resilience, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul.

Station 8: Let’s Paint

In the quiet sanctuary of her new home, Tetiana found solace in the act of creation, infusing her surroundings with the vibrancy of her spirit. With each stroke of paint, she breathed life into her space, transforming it into a haven of beauty and possibility—an embodiment of her unwavering resolve to rebuild, to reimagine, to reclaim.

Station 9: I Dream Not to Fix the World but to Repair Me

As the last brushstroke fell, Tetiana stood amidst the tableau of her own making, basking in the warmth of sunlight filtering through the curtains. In this moment of quiet introspection, she realized that her journey was not merely about rebuilding a life shattered by war but about rediscovering the strength within herself to rise from the ashes, to rewrite her story on her own terms.

Station 10: Here I Am

With unwavering resolve and unyielding pride, Tetiana Shalpachok emerges from the crucible of adversity, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. A daughter of Ukraine, a guardian of her heritage, and a visionary artist in the heart of Belgium, she stands defiant against the forces that sought to silence her, her camera poised to capture the beauty of a world reborn.