By Lucyna Talejko-Kwiatkowska, artist of when the war came
In order to create the first five drawings for the book entitled “When the War Came”, in March 2022, I met with Larysa, the mother of one of my students, Anastasia. Larysa came to my city from the town of Nikopol, in Ukraine. When we met, each of us spoke in her own language: Larysa knew a little bit of Polish from her daughter and I remembered a little bit of Russian from school. This conversation was difficult for both of us. Larysa told me about her long, horrific trip to Poland. I was terribly overwhelmed with the war breaking out so close to my home. I often struggled to catch my breath, while thinking about war next door. My parents often recalled the second World War. They kept telling me about it when I was a child. I still remember the fear... And now, in order to draw and depict the emotions of Ukrainians, I had to feel it all again in my body.
I based my drawings off of the stories shared by Larysa, photos and conversations with other Ukrainian and Polish ladies. During those challenging times, all my friends continued to help and support Ukrainian refugees. Meetings with Larysa and working on the book, helped me survive the first few months of this war. I showed her all the pictures and she commented on them. Sometimes she asked me to present something differently. We soon became friends with Larysa and my family rented her an apartment. We live close to each other. She invited me to join her fitness classes for Ukrainian ladies. We often speak about the tragic events in Ukraine, but not always. I know what her son looks like, he lives in Kiev. I saw pictures of the broken windows in her house in Nikopol.
Some of the members of Larysa’s family have already returned to Ukraine, like the many others. Her daughter has already committed to stay in Poland and Larysa is also planning to live here for now. She is studying Polish, searching for a job, and learning about a new country and its people. I greatly admire her. Larysa’s courage comforts me. Oftentimes, she supports me, offering words full of hope. I wish that her longing for peace in Ukraine comes true.
It is vital to understand the emotions of refugees who flee from a war- torn country. It is challenging even if we fully stand beside them in support. I hope that our book can help in this process of building an understanding while offering an insight into both the events and the emotions.