Canadian artist Maruschak unveils her ‘OUR RIUKZAK: Maria + Yehor’ project

Lesia Maruschak, a Canadian artist of Ukrainian descent, who is best known for her groundbreaking exhibition on the Holodomor, has unveiled a new project titled, “OUR RIUKZAK: Maria + Yehor”. 

The initiative whose principal all caps titled word means “rucksack,” or “bookbag,” sheds light on the realities of Russia’s war against Ukraine through the eyes of a child, while also exploring genocide and national identity through photography and art.  

At the center of the project is 11-year-old Yehor, a boy who was forced to flee his home in eastern Ukraine and seek refuge in the West because of the war. His story became a source of inspiration for Maruschak, who divides her time between Ottawa, Ontario and the province of Saskatchewan. 

“Maria symbolizes the [Soviet man-made famine of the] Holodomor – she is a direct reference to my previous project, “Project MARIA,” the artist told the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. 

She continued: “Yehor represents the ongoing war. His story was originally featured in a New York Times article by Lynsey Addario. By bringing together these two names, we connect two brutal atrocities.”

The bilingual Ukrainian and English language project targets audiences in Ukraine and abroad. 

It features 26 posters of various sizes and 91 images that use photography to examine war, genocide, and national memory.  

“This project is about children, the Holodomor, and the war we are witnessing today. I wanted to connect these historical events to the present and show people that this is not just another war – it is a deliberate, systemic attempt to destroy the Ukrainian people,” Maruschak said.  

The team has already produced two prototypes of the project with support from the Ukrainian World Congress and the Canada Council for the Arts.

The official artwork presentation is scheduled for March 7 at a conference that takes place in the U.S.-based Notre Dame University. More details are available at this link.