The traveling exhibition 'Courage of a Nation' has completed its first international tour across the cities of Moldova, attracting more than two thousand visitors. As a result, the total number of guests of the exhibition since its inception has surpassed the 50,000 mark. The exhibition, dedicated to the resilience and bravery of the Ukrainian people amid war, continues to expand its geography, going beyond Ukraine's borders and showing the world unique photographic works created during difficult times for the country.
Three Cities of Moldova and the Bălți Record
During its international journey, the unique gallery train visited three Moldovan cities — Chișinău, Ungheni, and Bălți. The highest number of guests was recorded in Bălți — a northern city home to a large Ukrainian diaspora, where the exhibition drew particular interest from local youth. The attendance figures confirm a steady demand for content about the war and Ukrainian resilience in countries directly connected to the Ukrainian experience.
Updated Exhibition and Review Leader
Before the international journey began, the exhibition of photographer Howard Buffett's works was updated, so it was the visitors in Moldova who first saw the new photographs. As per tradition, after viewing the exhibition, anyone could choose three works that impressed them the most. The leader in reviews during the international tour was a new photograph of 10-year-old gymnast Sasha Pascal, who lost a leg as a result of a Russian shelling but returned to sport after the amputation. According to the organizers, this story particularly moved the Moldovan audience.
Curation and Institutional Support
The special gallery train was created with the support of The Howard G. Buffett Foundation under the curation of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Mohamed Mehaisen. The combination of documentary photography, authorial curation, and the format of a traveling exhibition allows the project to maintain both artistic and educational value. The organizers are already preparing exhibitions in the next countries allied with Ukraine, indicating plans for further international expansion of the project.
Beyond the Exhibition: 'Ukrzaliznytsia's Social Initiatives
It is worth recalling that 'Ukrzaliznytsia' regularly implements not only artistic but also practical and social initiatives for passengers both abroad and in Ukraine. The carrier was the one that previously launched the first international tour of the unique gallery train 'Courage of a Nation,' and also reminded passengers of the rules of passenger transport and explained which countries provide free travel for Ukrainian children when preparing for trips abroad. Thus, the art project fits into a broader range of the company's service and humanitarian tasks.
