Heda

Heda by Ola Skowrońska paints a portrait of four young Chechen women living in Western Europe, all of whom share the name of one of the artist’s dearest acquaintances – the titular Heda, whom she met online years ago but has never been able to meet in person. That meeting, however, takes place here – on the plane of a collaboratively created project.

Each of the protagonists who lend their stories to Skowrońska lives in a state of suspension – caught between a deeply traditional, patriarchal culture they have left behind and a reality they now inhabit but which still denies them a full sense of belonging. Building relationships with the Hedas becomes a practice of overcoming that suspension and narrowing the distance, even if only for a moment.

Heda strengthens social awareness by familiarizing audiences with the topic of contemporary migration and the challenges of assimilation. Through art and its universal language, viewers are invited to feel the emotions of the protagonists and better understand their needs. The project fosters dialogue between different social groups, encouraging collective action and reflection on our shared responsibility for integration and mutual understanding. Heda becomes a space where we all participate in building a society founded on empathy and dialogue.

The project particularly resonates in the context of women’s stories, highlighting the strength they find in solidarity and agency in the face of exclusion. Art can change the way society perceives migration, shifting the narrative from migrant women as “victims” to heroines of their own stories. By portraying them as individuals – rather than nameless “refugees” – the project helps foster a more positive image.

Curators: Witek Orski, Krzysztof Pijarski