Children in Ukraine work with a local artist from Trier, creating art together
Artist Johannes Kolz recently returned to his hometown of Trier, Germany, after spending ten days in the eastern Ukrainian city of Isiyum. The journey, filled with unexpected experiences and a profound impact, marked the beginning of processing for Kolz.
Upon his return, the bulletproof vests lying on the floor by the entrance of his souvenir shop on Jakobstraße serve as a constant reminder of his journey. The vests, which seem out of place among the cups, signs with typical Trier slogans, and displays featuring drawn cartoon figures, are a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere of the shop.
Kolz found the experience of being in a war zone affected him more than expected. The front line in Isiyum is 40 kilometers away, and the constant threat of danger was palpable. Despite this, Kolz wanted to give the children in Ukraine a little distraction from the everyday horrors of war with pencil and paper.
Working and drawing with children in Ukraine was different for Kolz compared to his experiences in Trier. The children in Isiyum, despite their circumstances, were eager to learn and create. Kolz gave drawing lessons to the children, explaining steps simply so they could quickly have a sense of achievement. Among the donations were 1,000 drawing blocks and more than 5,000 lead and colored pencils, which Kolz used to draw cartoons with over 70 children and young people in Isiyum.
The first night back in his own bed felt unfamiliar to Kolz. The construction noise on the street corner caused a queasy feeling. However, Kolz was deeply moved by the warmth and gratitude of the children and young people in Ukraine. This experience has left a lasting impact on him, and he believes he will be more relaxed again in the coming days.
Kolz was part of a humanitarian convoy that included volunteers from the German-Ukrainian Society, the Eifel Light Association, and several transporters loaded with bicycles, hospital beds, hygiene articles, and other urgently needed donations for everyday life in Ukraine. For the fourth time, the German-Ukrainian Society traveled to Isiyum with these supplies.
As for the future, Kolz plans to keep the bulletproof vests nearby, as he plans to do more humanitarian aid work in the future. Whether he will process the experience through his drawings remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Kolz's journey to Isiyum has left a lasting impact, not only on him but also on the children and young people he met there.
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