Modern & Contemporary Art Exhibitions in Liverpool

In memory of Kostiantyn Huzenko For the Ukrainian people, the concept of home has acquired a profound and new meaning following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Home no longer refers merely to physical shelter; it has become essential for understanding and communicating how war has reshaped Ukraine’s social and cultural landscape. This exhibition brings together different generations of Ukrainian artists, offering diverse approaches to photography and different understandings of what the concept of home can mean. The exhibition addresses several key moments in recent Ukrainian history, including miners’ protests in the 1990s, the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–2014, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war that began in 2014. These events are explored through a range of photographic approaches and methods, reflecting a plurality of artistic practices — from traditional black-and-white documentary photography to mixed-media works, as well as staged and manipulated images. Alongside these broader historical narratives are personal stories rooted in the authors’ lived experiences — those of belonging, displacement, resistance, and those of losing, searching for or finding a new home. The exhibition is curated by Viktoria Bavykina and Max Gorbatskyi. Viktoria Bavykina said, "With this iteration of the exhibition, we tried to think more strategically. Every Ukrainian now working with culture and history is trying to work with a decolonial approach in their work, as our history has been prescribed with a Soviet focus. We are trying to rewrite our own history to centre Ukrainian voices." Sarah Fisher, Open Eye Gallery’s executive director, added, "It’s very important that people in the UK and beyond see images of people from Ukraine and living in Ukraine, to foster support. Culture has a responsibility to show these stories and these authentic voices." After the full-scale Russian invasion, many photographers working across different genres decided to become war photographers or volunteers, and some made the decision to join the Armed Forces. Kostiantyn Huzenko was one of them. Aged 28, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2024 as part of the 35th Marine Brigade and was killed in action by a Russian missile on 1 November 2025. This exhibition is dedicated to his memory. The original Home. Perspectives exhibition was commissioned by Open Eye Gallery for Eurofestival — the cultural programme of Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, hosted on behalf of Ukraine. It subsequently travelled to five British cities, concluding with a final presentation at the UK Parliament in February 2025. This iteration is the first presentation of the exhibition outside the UK. It happens as Ukrainian cities suffer the harshest winter due to daily Russian attacks deliberately targeting the country’s energy system and heat supply, while the temperatures drop to -20 degrees. Participating artists: Vic Bakin, Igor Chekachkov, Alexander Chekmenev, Lia Dostlieva and Andrii Dostliev, Nazar Furyk, Kostiantyn Huzenko, Valeriy Miloserdov, Oksana Parafenuik, Volodymyr Petrov, Serhii Polezhaka, Polina Polikarpova, Andrii Rachynskyi, Anton Shebetko, Yaroslav Solop, Daria Svertilova, Elena Subach, Anya Tsaruk and Emine Ziyatdin The poems in the exhibition are written by: Hussein Al-Dahir, Wesam Almadani, Elzahraa Jadallah, Firas Saadoon and Somaya El Sousi The exhibition is curated by Viktoria Bavykina and Max Gorbatskyi

A stunning outdoor exhibition featuring photos and stories by 20 local people, celebrating the remarkable trees that shape Wigan’s landscape and heritage! TreeStory Wigan is a community project that invites residents of all ages and abilities to discover and celebrate the incredible trees of the borough, from the wetlands of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve to cherished trees in local parks, streets and green spaces. The project is delivered in partnership by Wigan Council, Open Eye Gallery and dot-art, building on the success of a similar project in the Liverpool City Region, and has been made possible thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.