Ukrainians From Bifrost Exhibit at Radhus Reykjavikur

"Art has the power to unite different groups and nations and create a connection between people of different backgrounds. Being on the run, moving to a new place, dealing with trauma and unfamiliar situations can be difficult, therefore it’s important to be able to step out of that situation occasionally and express yourself through the joy of creation. In the Art Workshop at Bifröst, people of all ages and backgrounds are united through artistic expression. The workshops are fun, rewarding and self-confidence boosting but first and foremost they aim to create a venue where people can enjoy each others company and friendship."

Text by Bifrost Art workshop Organizer and volunteer of the Red Cross Iceland- 

Christine Attensperger

I am Maria and I am from Ukraine.

      There are now russian terrorists in my hometown, and I want the world to remember what is happening in my country.  This is important, and we should not forget about it, so each of my drawings speaks about what is happening in Ukraine now.  

      I want people, seeing my paintings, to think that evil is evil, and that it needs to be fought.  And that human life is the most valuable thing on earth, and no one has the right to take it away.

I'm Alona. I came from Konotop, but for the past four years I lived and studied in Kharkiv at the KHNU named after V.N. Karazina majoring in "Psychology". In Kharkiv, I also worked with neuro-special children in an educational center. On weekends, I worked as an instructor at the paintball club. And during the summer holidays, I was a hired worker on a farm in Germany.


I have different experiences; the experience of a resident of the occupied territories and the experience of a refugee have recently appeared. But art is the leitmotif of my life. My creativity is the language through which I want to share my thoughts with you. I believe that I am not alone among them. Thank you for visiting this page.


Instagram: @perversus_alter

My name is Ekateryna Osypenko. Born in 2007 in the town Ternopil. Before coming to Iceland, lived in Odessa. Graduated from Odessa School No. 69 and prepared for college with a degree in interior design. Since childhood, I was attracted to various types of creativity and I found my outlet in drawing. Nothing conveys the inner world of a people and their emotions so well as what they created with their own hands. 

What I wanted to say with these works: 

Recently, unfortunately, too cruel and large-scale events happen in the world. People do not find a place and time to enjoy the moment with the people they love. It felt like there was less and less magic around me that I felt during Christmas as a child. With the war, all positive emotions seem to have disappeared. That is why for the gallery I wanted to portray the feeling that many people in the world lack, the fleeting joy of the upcoming holiday and tranquility. 

Thе place where it finally became freer to breathe was Iceland! I would like to express my admiration for nature, culture and people through my drawings. The main thing I tried to achieve was to try to depict "different worlds" on Christmas Eve through images and my idea of ​​them.

Kharkiv, Ukraine

Svitlana is not a professional artist. She was born in 1963 in Kazakhstan in a family of deported settlers from Boykivshina. She lived and worked in Kharkiv. After the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, she moved to Iceland.

She is an immunologist by profession and has a scientific degree. Her creative direction – is traditional Ukrainian embroidery and painting.Some beautiful places of Ukraine are depicted in her works, in particular, the Carpathians and the Crimean Coast. Each canvas contains personal memories and dreams. This is the author’sattempt to convey both the beauty of a small mountain stream and the majesty of the seashore, to share her vision of the changeability and constancy of existence.

Feodosia, Ukraine

Hello, my name is Olga Alekseeva, I'm 36. I was born in a small village in the suburbs of Feodosia, and I lived my adult life in Kharkov, Kyiv and Odessa, but 10 years ago I returned to the south of Ukraine. We have amazing nature with rocks and the sea, hot summers and sweet peaches. In October my family (husband, me and 2 kids) left home and came to Iceland. Here I see natural beauty close to me. Crazy landscapes inspire life and peace in the heart. Here I feel at home and I'm happy

Sunrises in Iceland are sweet every day. This is the real feeling of childhood. They smell of vanilla and berries, have a yoghurt flavor and always make you feel like you're flying and wanting to wake up faster.

Feodosia, Ukraine

I Am Daria Kasyanova.

I am 35 years old and from the city of Melitopol. 

By education l am a painter, master of oil and acrylic painting. 

Last year l worked in the Ukrainian army, so this is the theme of the picture. 
The name of my painting is "Hope"
That's all I want to tell you about my painting