Belarus = Europe

Description

In a world where national identity is often shaped by propaganda and fear, Belarus = Europe by Belarusian-Danish artist and designer Pan Zmi Thor offers a defiant and visionary counter-narrative. Through twenty striking poster works—both graphic and poetic in nature—Thor reclaims visual language as a space for resistance, hope, and redefinition.

This exhibition challenges the stereotypes imposed on Belarus by authoritarian narratives, offering instead a bold aesthetic of political clarity and cultural solidarity. His works are not only declarations—they are visual mantras that echo with a European heartbeat, urging viewers to see Belarus not as an outlier, but as a rightful part of a free and democratic Europe.

Each poster invites viewers to rethink what it means to belong—to a place, a history, a future. The series functions as both an archive of present-day resilience and a speculative map toward collective emancipation. Juxtaposing revolutionary slogans with subversive graphic design, Thor’s work transforms the exhibition space into a visual protest—a silent but persistent voice for the voiceless.

Originally exhibited in Tallinn, the Daugavpils edition included new works responding to the evolving political situation and the ongoing struggle of Belarusian political prisoners and exiled communities. As part of a broader program in support of the Belarusian opposition, the exhibition embodies cultural resistance in its most immediate form.

Public Program

The exhibition opened on 31 March with a live presentation by Pan Zmi Thor, who spoke about the intersections of art, activism, and identity in the Belarusian context. The event also featured remarks by Latvian political representatives and a musical performance by Alexander Pomidoroff—bridging art and political discourse in an atmosphere of solidarity.