On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, an exhibition of paintings by Kamilla Kristensen Rai, counsellor on water and environment of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Ukraine, opened at the Media Center of the State Enterprise ‘Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions’.
The artistic gathering was attended by staff of the embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Pakistan, and Switzerland, representatives of state authorities, as well as friends and admirers of the artist’s work.
The exhibition showcases a collection of artworks that reflect the artist’s unique perspective and convey an atmosphere shaped by thoughtful use of colour, composition, and form. Many of the pieces center on Ukraine, capturing its spirit, stories, and resilience. Each work offers space for individual interpretation, inviting viewers to engage emotionally and reflectively.
The art event was opened with welcoming speeches by acting head of the Media Center Directorate, Romana Kasiianchuk, and artist, counsellor on water and environment of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Ukraine, Kamilla Kristensen Rai.
Romana Kasiianchuk said,
‘Dear guests! It is my great honour to welcome you all at the Media Center for the opening of the exhibition In-Between, a deeply impressive collection by Ms Kamilla. For me, this exhibition is more than a collection of paintings — it is a space for reflection, dialogue, and shared humanity, reminding us of the enduring power of art to connect people across borders and experiences. On behalf of the entire GDIP team, I thank Ms Kamilla for sharing her vision with us, and all of you for being here tonight. I hope you will take your time with these works and let them speak to you in the language of reflection’.
During her speech, Ms Kamilla spoke about the title of the art exhibition, which features 16 paintings, discussing their themes and events that inspired each work’s concept, as well as the emotional depth conveyed through symbolic imagery.
‘This exhibition is called In-Between because I understand the word ‘in-between’ as a state of mind, time, or space. And in this in-between, a shift can happen from one state of mind to another, from one moment in time to another. Or it can be a shift between countries or worlds. And in this in-between space, there is a kind of restlessness. But it is also a place where things can move, or you as a person or the world can change,’
the artist explained. The paintings reflect her meditations on the inner world of characters caught between war and peace, the condition of nature after the Chornobyl disaster, flooding, intensified emotions, and people’s dreams and hopes for the world.
The guests of the exhibition were deeply moved by the vivid plots and emotional richness of the artworks. Jens Alsbirk, Deputy Head of the Danish Mission in Ukraine, and Serhii Vlasenko, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalisation, offered their congratulations on the success of the exhibition.
Jens Alsbirk expressed his admiration for the way the artist shed light on the current realities of wartime Ukraine and artistically illustrated her vision of the idea of ‘in-between’. He remarked:
‘We are between peace and war, and perhaps more in war than in peace. You have expressed some of these themes exceptionally well.’
In turn, Serhii Vlasenko noted that Denmark remains a very strong partner of Ukraine, especially in the Mykolaiv region, and invited Ms Kamilla to finally see for herself the extraordinary natural world of Chornobyl, which she has beautifully captured in one of her paintings.
The exhibition In-Between will be on view at the GDIP Media Center until 21 May 2025.
