Opening of the Photography Exhibition by Sebastian Płocharski

Between 2022 and 2025, Sebastian Płocharski continues his work as a documentary filmmaker and volunteer, still working in the front-line areas of eastern Ukraine. His latest series of portraits depicts residents whom the artist personally tried to evacuate from the front lines. All of them refused, choosing to leave their lives to the whims of war.

The series "Portraits Before the End: Faces of the Russian-Ukrainian War" is a tribute to the civilian population still living in war zones. For these people, the daily struggle for survival means a lack of access to food, water, or electricity. The artist has forged friendships with each of these individuals and makes an effort to visit them regularly. This is not just a photography exhibition; it is a reminder of our shared responsibility for those who live in the shadow of conflict.

The subjects of the series are residents of cities occupied by Russia, such as Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Soldhera, Bakhmut, and Pokrovsk.

07.04.2025Mon18:00

The series "Portraits Before the End: Faces of the Russian-Ukrainian War" by Sebastian Tomasz Płocharski – a Toruń-based visual artist, documentary director, photographer, publicist, journalist, war correspondent, and social activist. He is a student of documentary directing at DOK Pro at Wajda School & Studio and a scholarship holder of the Andrzej Wajda Foundation KYOTO.

Sebastian is the founder of the project @Make_Coffee_Not_War_info, which focuses on storytelling through new media and social activism in areas affected by war and humanitarian deprivation. He has worked as a documentary director since 2015 in the war zone in eastern Ukraine, and has been continuously present there since February 24, 2022. He is currently working on several individual documentary projects about the tragedy unfolding during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He collaborates with television networks from around the world, including the British BBC.

Sebastian’s work combines social activism and engaged documentary filmmaking. He believes that only by being part of the situation he portrays and using his sensitivity and empathy can he honestly and accurately tell the stories of the subjects he covers.