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On May 21, the Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus, the Museum of Free Belarus opened the exhibition “Nothing Particularly New.”
The title comes from a phrase often found in the letters of political prisoners — an attempt to conceal pain and the bleak routine of imprisonment.
The exhibition presents personal belongings of political prisoners donated to the museum’s collection: everyday items, poems, excerpts from letters, and audio recordings. Each artifact stands as a testament to the lives of people imprisoned for their beliefs, dignity, and pursuit of freedom.
This exhibition not only documents but also tells a story — of those who wrote “nothing particularly new” to reassure loved ones while silently struggling for their freedom. It was created for the prisoners and for everyone who seeks to know, remember, and support them.
Curator: Volha Klip
Designer: Alyaksandr Adamau
Composer and sound designer: Ilya Semashkevich
Lighting artist: Danila Hancharou
Graphic designer: Darya Abibok
Visual artist: Artsiom Zadrutski
Letters from political prisoners were performed by Volha Karalionak and Andrei Sawchanka.
Project partners include: the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, the Belarusian Association of Political Prisoners “Da Voli”, and the National Anti-Crisis Management.
Financial support was provided by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw, the City of Warsaw, and the Trzy Trąby Foundation.
The opening was attended by leaders of the Belarusian democratic forces, representatives of the Polish Sejm, Senate, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as diplomats from EU countries.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paid special attention to the event, visiting the exhibition and emphasizing the importance of memory and solidarity with political prisoners.
