Now on Display in Estonia: 14 Paintings Made by Kharkiv Children Inside a Shelter

Estonia Welcomes the 'Lost Tales' Exhibition

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: For international audiences, the exhibition opens a window onto the inner world of Ukrainian children living through war. The 'Lost Tales' project, run by the Aza Nizi Maza studio, is currently being shown at the Museum of New Art in Pärnu, Estonia. It features 14 large-scale paintings made by roughly 40 children and teenagers from Kharkiv. The works were produced in a shelter. The display opened on August 21, 2026, and remains on view until October 4. The project started in 2024.

Behind the Young Artists' Research

Each of the 14 canvases measures 2.5 by 1.8 meters. Curator Iryna Hrytska explained that the children looked closely at Baroque art, antique maps, almanacs, and catalogs of plants and animals before painting.

“Since Baroque art is a major part of world heritage that these children have never been able to see firsthand, creating their own fictional Baroque museum became their answer,”

she said.

The opening was attended by Ukrainians and Estonians, officials from the local government, and Ukraine's ambassador to Estonia. A separate art workshop was held for Ukrainian children now living in Estonia. Hrytska underlined the broader meaning of the project:

“The main point is to show that although these children are growing up in war, and many have parents who are fighting or have been killed, art gives them freedom-the freedom to dream, to live, to love, and to invent stories.”

Aza Nizi Maza has kept working in Kharkiv since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. 'Lost Tales' has already been exhibited at the Book Arsenal in Kyiv and in Prague. After the current exhibition in Estonia ends, the works are scheduled to travel to Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Hrytska also said that it is vital to show Ukrainian art in general, especially the work of children, noting that visitors have been impressed by the complexity of the pieces and the many layers of meaning they discovered.

Aza Nizi Maza's goal is not to show war itself. “We constantly point out what is happening in Ukraine and what our children are going through, but we also want to show how strong they are, how talented they are, and how much they deserve a peaceful and happy life,” Hrytska said. In this way, the project demonstrates the role of artistic expression as a source of support during harsh times.

'Lost Tales' offers a powerful example of how creativity can help children cope with the emotional consequences of war and find a voice of their own. Rendered on a large scale and shown across borders, these paintings reveal not only the young authors' resilience but also their imaginative range. Through such international presentations, Aza Nizi Maza strengthens the presence of Ukrainian culture and reminds audiences that childhood creativity deserves attention even amid conflict.

In addition to the 'Lost Tales' exhibition in Estonia, another significant showcase of Ukrainian art is set to open soon. The photographic exhibition 'Ukraine - Beauty Beyond Pain' will highlight the resilience and beauty of Ukraine amidst adversity, providing a powerful glimpse into the nation's artistic spirit. Such initiatives underscore the importance of cultural expression in times of conflict.