The Lights Stay On is a documentary photo exhibition requested by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to shine light on the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the effects of their partnership with international institutions.

For its execution, we deviated from the type of exhibitions that try to evoke compassion by utilizing a narrative of despair. By selecting 15 stories that best embody pride through a narrative of perseverance. To cross the cultural bridge between the Ukrainian context and that of the audience in Brussels, we presented the portraits of the 15 protagonists in the style of René Magritte’s The Waking State. A work that visualizes how the feeling of home remains even in buildings that no longer exist, painted by a Belgian artist.

The resulting exhibition was first displayed at the European Parliament in Brussels in September 2025, at the heart of European democracy. The physical exhibition was complemented by a digital campaign at Brussels Airport, generating 4.7 million impressions.

In December 2025, the exhibition had its Ukrainian debut at the XIV Civil Society Forum in Kyiv. In 2026, the exhibition will continue to tour across regions throughout Ukraine.