FEBRUARIE 2022: ECOURI
By: Valeria Duca
24th February – 16th March 2025
Curated by Dawit Algerson & Alexandra Mihalaș

The Presidency of the Republic of Moldova
UNCHR Moldova
The National Museum of Art of Moldova
The National Congress of Ukainians
Intersos, "PTASHKA"

28. In vama la Palanca, 180x170 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:5f638fab-fe0c-4c95-bf6b-60aebbe99aac

At the Palanca boarder

170x180 cm
oil on canvas

27. Somn III, 100x80 cm, 2023.jpg__PID:e1aeb67c-721e-42da-8109-25973f1b299a

Sleep III

100x80 cm
oil on canvas

24. Munte de perne, 160x195 cm, 2025.jpg__PID:10dcca82-5a22-4211-acd9-f6eaffbca420

Mountain of Pillows

160x195 cm
oil on canvas

23. Supravietuire, 95x145 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:d1520540-ea10-455f-9352-86ef82827c0b

Survival

145x95 cm
oil on canvas

22. Transport in Noapte, 160x140 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:4365b97b-d85f-4486-aa5a-cefff708113f

Travelling in the Night

160x140 cm
oil on canvas

21. Invazie, 140x120 cm, 2023.jpg__PID:05e3bd29-2599-4465-b590-d1a945e0952c

Invasion

140x120 cm
oil on canvas

20. Somn II, 90x80 cm, 2022-24.jpg__PID:68e56740-c2b3-4ef8-bcfc-05b05c268d87

Sleep II

80x90 cm
oil on canvas

19. Urmarind stirile, 120x80 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:2f21abbc-4d15-4c79-a019-db8bc0cd63f8

Watching the News

120x80 cm
oil on canvas

17. Asternut pentru o familie, 28x28 cm.jpg__PID:9f012f15-fc0b-4f4e-add1-25ae9da25a5b

A Night for One Family

28x28 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

16. Asternut pentru doi, 28x28 cm.jpg__PID:44ef560c-20c9-4b10-a295-8db770d368c2

A Night for Two

28x28 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

15. Camera pentru unu, 28x28 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:a851d391-d039-457a-9ac6-09b90d920492

Room for One

28x28 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

14. Asternut I, 28x28 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:c4bd69ee-6e9a-4848-8328-17607faf5712

Bedding

28x28 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

13. Asternut II, 28x28 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:a9801744-d444-46eb-a81d-e43b9bb7da4a

Bedding II

28x28 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

12. Amurg, Moldexpo, Martie 2022, 38x28 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:3374fe54-dd67-4392-911c-9551d95e8d9d

Twilight

29x39 cm
Gouache on paper mounted on wood

11. Raze calde, 120x80cm, 2024.jpg__PID:afb23b44-ef01-47cc-a6d7-23adcd115d49

Warm Sunrays

120x80 cm
oil on canvas

10. La statie de autobuze, Palanca, 150x100 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:30779132-bbe8-4dbf-b644-b9976a31e115

At the Bus Station, Palanca

150x100 cm
oil on canvas

9. Asteptare, 50x50 cm, 2025.jpg__PID:b28c5e79-f0dc-4b00-9deb-5c5e10930b51

Waiting

50x50 cm
oil on canvas

7. Intre trecut si prezent, 90x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:4599215d-8476-4ac6-8cbc-9a073ac783f7

Between Past and Present

90x90 cm
oil on canvas

6. Tinandu-ne de mana, 90x90 cm, 2023-24.jpg__PID:70a67c7f-25cf-441f-8cbf-f7395588fdb7

While We're Holding Hands

90x90 cm
oil on canvas

5. Apel, 72x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:1c5b57db-c319-4d0a-8732-c389dbaa0e18

Phonecall

72x90 cm
oil on canvas

1. Lasate in urma I, 90x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:a63ffec0-276e-4c60-9e5c-1a1aa20441cf

Left Behind

90x90 cm
Acryl, oil, oil spray and mortar on wood

2. Lasate in urma II, 90x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:0c2aeffd-f396-4b0f-9cd3-935e91e652fb

Left Behind II

90x90 cm
Acryl, oil, oil spray and mortar on wood

4. Lasate in urma III, 90x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:20aa6278-0acb-4a92-9240-28d45ef2866e

Left Behind III

90x90 cm
Acryl, oil, oil spray and mortar on wood

3. O noapte de om, 90x90 cm, 2024.jpg__PID:8363daf5-42b4-409c-aa52-7ffc028ef8ee

One Human's Night

90x90 cm
Acryl, oil, oil spray and mortar on wood

25. Somn I, 90x70 cm, 2022.jpg__PID:6d096ff9-2feb-4bb8-9991-10378b1af2f3

Sleep I

70x90 cm
Oil on Canvas

18. Saltele pe podea, 30x40 cm, 2022.jpg__PID:61147a40-6680-4218-b1d0-b3af2b7ea607

Matresses on the Floor

30x40 cm
Oil on Canvas

8. In siguranta, 90x70 cm, 2022.jpg__PID:23f1a6e9-14f7-408f-9001-d827eec18e54

Safety

70x90 cm
Oil on Canvas



Organized by UNHCR Moldova in collaboration with the National Museum of Fine Art Moldova, FEBRUARIE 2022: ECOURI stands as a profound and reflective testament to the three-year mark of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Through an evocative blend of artistic mediums, the exhibition creates a space for remembrance, healing, and understanding, amplifying the stories of those whose lives have been forever altered by the ongoing war.

At its heart, the exhibition delves into the intertwined themes of trauma, resilience, strength, and unity, giving voice to the human stories behind the invasion. Moldova, a country that has opened its arms and hearts to over 1.9 million refugees, with over 135,000 choosing to stay, becomes both a backdrop and a beacon in this narrative. Since 2022, the Moldovan government, in partnership with UNHCR, other UN agencies, national and international organizations, and the people of Moldova, has been steadfast in its support of refugees and vulnerable communities, underscoring the enduring power of solidarity.

Central to the exhibition is the work of Moldovan artist Valeria Duca, whose journey began at an early age and has since led her to international acclaim. Currently based in Oslo, Valeria returned to Moldova, compelled by the need to help document this turbulent chapter of history. As a volunteer, she bore witness to the raw realities of displacement—families arriving at the borders, uncertain futures, and the quiet yet profound resilience of those seeking sanctuary. Valeria’s paintings, presented in this exhibition, transcend documentation. Through her fragmented realism style, she weaves deeply personal narratives of survival, displacement, and hope. Her muted tones, frozen expressions, and layered textures evoke a spectrum of emotions—fear, uncertainty, resilience, and an enduring hope for a better future. Each work serves as a bridge between individual stories and collective memory, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and connect.

The exhibition also incorporates “Cele rele să se spele, cele bune să se adune”, an interactive installation produced by Victoria Peev and Valeria Duca, that engages viewers in the ongoing processes of healing, solidarity, and collective strength. This participatory piece challenges audiences to reflect on their own roles in fostering empathy and resilience, transforming passive observation into active introspection.

Adding another dimension to the narrative are audio testimonies curated by theational Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova and Ptashka. These voices reveal the raw and unfiltered realities of displacement. Each testimony carries the weight of a singular life, a unique story of survival, adaptation, and perseverance. Together, they form a collective narrative of resilience, underscoring the humanity behind every story.

A space where art becomes a vessel for memory and a call for empathy. The works presented do not merely document a moment in history; they invite audiences to connect emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually with the lives and experiences of those affected. Through the lens of art, we are reminded of the shared humanity that unites us, the resilience that sustains us, and the collective hope for a future defined not by division and war, but by peace, compassion, and solidarity.

This Exhibition is organized by the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the National Museum of Fine Art Moldova, in collaboration with the National Congress of Ukrainians in Moldova as part of the “Big Heart” initiative, Intersos, and the Association for Ukrainian Culture and Art in Moldova “PTASHKA”. This exhibition would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our donors.