Page 17 - The Portal magazine - June 2024

THE P RTAL June 2024 Page 17

Child of War

An Exhibition by Arabella Dorman

HE UKRAINIAN Orthodox Catholic Cathedral, just off Oxford Street in London, is well known
Tfor its minstry of welcome. It is there that the Ukrainian Welcome Centre offers a centre for people from
that war-ravaged country to meet and seek help.

In conjunction with the charity Beyond Conflict it is
currently hosting an amazing and moving exhibition by
the renowned war-artist Arabella Dorman. She visited
Ukraine last year and has put together many images
based on her experience. There are panels of children’s
art - their sometimes harrowing, sometimes hopeful
but always moving interpretation of life under war
conditions. There are also artefacts of war - a schoolroom
clock, shattered and distorted by a bomb which fell on
the school at ten to four in the afternoon. There are
children’s shoes, used as ashtrays by invading soldiers.

Arabella’s paintings are dramatic and almost
monochrome oil paintings. One panel features a letter
from a nine year old Ukrainian girl to her mother.
Galya’s mother was shot and killed in their car as they
tried to escape an attack. Miraculously saved by brave
neighbours, Galya wrote, ‘This letter is a present for
you. If you think that you wasted time bringing me up,
then you are wrong. Thank you for the best nine years
of my life. Thank you very much for my childhood. You
are the best mum in the world. I shall never forget you.
I wish you happiness in heaven! I wish you to go to a
paradise. We shall meet in the paradise. I shall try to
behave well in order to get to the paradise. I kiss you.’

Beyond Conflict is a mental health charity working
to tackle the unseen psychological sufferings of those Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski urged those at the
caught up in wars. Edna Fernandes, Director, who opening Press Conference above all to pray – for
travelled with Arabella Dorman, told us that they peace, for healing of damaged souls, and for a spirit of
believe that there can be no lasting peace without welcome. Beyond Conflict and the Ukrainian Welcome
addressing these needs - one of their texts is that Centre will share the proceeds of this exhibition – and
“Damaged people damage people” - and yes, you will it is hoped that later it will be taken to other parts of
need to pause to take that in. It is reckoned that one in this country and even abroad. The charities may be
five of the children who have known only war in their small, but even a small charity can make a difference.
lives have mental health problems, and these problems
need to be addressed or the future will lie in the hands The Exhibition runs until 6th June 2024. It is open
of these damaged people. from 10am to 5pm every day. Entrance is free. Access is
by the door at 21 Binney Street, London W1K 5BQ. The
There is a grave danger that there will be sensory nearest Underground Station is Bond Street. (From the
overload, leading to despair that nothing can be done Elizabeth Line leave by the Davies Street exit.)
as the problem is just too big. But hope remains –
even among those children who have lost everything If you are within reach of central London and can
and among those families whose members have been spare an hour or so – do visit this exhibition. You will
killed, who have lost their homes and are desperately not regret it. More information may be found at www.
trying to rebuild their shattered lives. beyond-conflict.co.uk