Libereco is delighted to be part of the largest arts festival in the world, showing work to highlight the situation of Belarusian political prisoners. Until 26 August, the art installation “Voices squeezing through the bars” names of over 1,400 prisoners are each displayed in Edinburgh in English and Belarusian.
This year in Edinburgh the Fringe Festival (2–26 August) includes performers from 58 different countries, performing 3,841 shows in over 52,000 performances. Included in this arts festival Libereco has collaborated with The People’s Consulate of Belarus in Scotland, and with support from Summerhall, to display two works in support of Belarusian political prisoners.
In the courtyard of Summerhall the names of over 1,400 political prisoners are each displayed on individual labels, in English and Belarusian. Covering nearly 50 square meters, this display powerfully and depressingly shows the extent of political oppression in Belarus as each label represents the years of imprisonment, lost hopes, depression, ill health and broken lives of so many innocent people. But, it also represents the courage and defiance of thousands of Belarusians who have not bowed to the Lukasheno regime’s attempts to silence people and stop any dissent.
Drawings from Belarusian prisons
Within the Summerhall building, one wall displays 15 reproductions of drawings by Belarusian political prisoners. The drawings were never intended for display, but included in letters sent from prison to family and loved ones. The drawings speak of the fear, hopes, defiance and dreams of people who suffer under the oppression of the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenko. The drawings force us to reflect on the psychological impact of years of unjust imprisonment and separation from loved ones.
In response to these installations, a family member of a Belarusian political prisoner said, “Solidarity helps to hold on and wait for your loved ones from captivity. It is Solidarity that makes it clear that we are not alone in our grief. This is important, because we feel that there are many of us. And that’s why we will win!”
