Occupied / Unoccupied is a photography exhibition by Ukrainian photographer Iryna Sozanska, living in Dorset, on display at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum from 20 January to 8 March 2026.
The exhibition brings together photographs taken over four years, from the first days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when the artist and her family were living under occupation and evacuating, to images from their life in safety in Dorset. Shown side by side, the photographs explore the contrast between war and peace, fear and safety, loss and renewal.
Alongside the photographs, visitors will see a fragment of a Russian missile and a short video with sound filmed during the early days of the invasion, adding a powerful physical and emotional dimension to the exhibition.
Occupied / Unoccupied is about survival, resilience, healing, and human connection. It will resonate with Ukrainians who have settled in the UK since 2022, as well as with local communities who care about the situation in Ukraine and want to better understand the human stories behind the headlines.