In addition to writing this announcement, Keith Sayer also served as editor of the project website, which he organized and created for this project.
The Nanovic Institute for European Studies releases today its latest student-created digital exhibition called “Fighting for Democracy and Human Rights Through the Arts,” the culmination of the work of an undergraduate research group organized by the institute during the spring 2024 semester. Ten students each wrote about a distinct artist and their efforts to use art as a platform for confronting human rights abuses, protesting the proliferation of war, and safeguarding democratic rights in Europe and beyond. The artists come from many backgrounds and work in mediums as diverse as installations, illustration, performance art, and street murals.
Fighting for Democracy and Human Rights Through the Arts
A spring 2024 student research project
This exhibition is the third in a series of similar projects the Nanovic Institute has undertaken in the two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted the “Ukrainian Art as Protest and Resilience” project. Following the success of this project, the institute formed another student research group focused on written art in the form of wartime poetry and songs. “Writing the War in Ukraine” brought together original Ukrainian works, their English translations, and student analyses.
With this latest project, Abigail Lewis, director of undergraduate studies at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and project leader, sought to expand the conversation from only Ukraine to a broader discussion of how art inspires and empowers people across borders, but with particular attention to Europe. She observes:
“A recurring theme that emerged throughout the project was ghosts and haunting. Europe’s past—the legacies of colonialism, warfare, authoritarianism, racism, and labor exploitation—all palpably haunt the present realities of these artists. The theme of haunting emphasizes the interconnectedness of the past and present, the reality that the specters of past violence continue to influence current inequities.”
To engage with this interconnected thread, the exhibition invites viewers to consider critical questions about democracy and human rights. It is organized into themed sets of works that explore how art responds to:
- migration and the challenges migrants and refugees face;
- the battle for democracy against authoritarianism;
- displacement and under-resourcing; and
- decolonization.
Anna Gazewood, a senior studying political science and music, has participated in all three Nanovic-organized, research projects focused on the arts. She says:
“In all three projects, I have been able to explore a diverse range of art forms including tattoos, songwriting, and illustrations. I have witnessed the ability of artists to respond to world events as they occur, including in the months following the full-scale Russian invasion. In this project, I decided to focus on Diala Brisly, a Syrian refugee whose work centers on the experiences of children as a result of war and the displacement it causes. I have been passionate about refugee rights for a long time and am excited to highlight the work of this talented and inspiring visual artist.”
The theme of haunting emphasizes the interconnectedness of the past and present, the reality that the specters of past violence continue to influence current inequities.
During the semester-long project, the students also had opportunities to speak directly with many artists whose work they studied, including Ukrainian photographer Iva Sidash. Sidash graciously met with students and allowed a photo from her moving collection “Further Along the Road” to be used as the key art for the exhibition. This collection was taken on expired film, giving the photos a unique color and texture that feels equally nostalgic and ethereal—an example of the medium contributing to the message and encapsulating the aims of the project as a whole. The students also met with Grzegorz Kwiatkowski, a poet, musician, and scholar who has used his work to advocate for Holocaust remembrance in Poland. Kwiatkowski recently fought to preserve the museum and memorial at the Stutthof concentration camp, where members of his family, including his grandfather, were held captive.
As with the two previous exhibitions, this project will remain online indefinitely. The Nanovic Institute offers it as a unique research outcome, produced by undergraduate students, on the themes of democracy and human rights that are central to the strategic priorities of the University of Notre Dame, including the 2023-24 Notre Dame Forum, and the Keough School of Global Affairs. Viewers are invited to consider how the arts can serve as a means of expression and a platform to consider big questions about Europe and humanity.
Student Researchers:
- Ethan Chiang ’27
- Anna Gazewood ’24
- Monay Licata ’25
- Kendra Lyimo ’24
- Abby O’Connor ’26
- Jane Palmer ’26
- Cate Porter ’25
- Annie Rehill ’24
- Erin Tutaj ’24
- Isabelle Wilson ’26
Project Leaders
- Abigail Lewis
- Clare Barloon ’24
Special thanks to Iva Sidash for allowing her photo to serve as the key art and Grzegorz Kwiatkowski for meeting with the students and sharing his experiences.