On June 12, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya attended the opening of the international contemporary art biennale Matter of Art 2026 in Prague. The exhibition brings together more than 30 artists and art collectives from across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya joined the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic, Oto Klempíř, to tour the exhibition. They were welcomed by the organizers and curators, who presented the main projects and guided them through the exhibition.
Belarusian artists are among the biennale participants. Belarusian artist and sculptor Gleb Amankulov is exhibiting art objects that incorporate everyday household and interior items, while Rufina Bazlova is presenting the “Stitch It Collective” project, dedicated to political prisoners in Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Belarusian artists and thanked them for continuing to represent Belarusian culture on the international stage despite repression and forced exile.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am deeply inspired by what Belarusian artists continue to create despite being forced into exile. Many of them have experienced repression and had no choice but to leave their country. Yet Belarusian art continues to live, evolve, and strengthen our presence in the world.
I am truly pleased that our artists are being welcomed at such a high level and are represented here at the Prague Biennale. Prague has always been a place of creative freedom for Belarusians. It was here that many figures of culture, literature, and the arts found refuge.
And today, this tradition continues. It highlights our connection to Europe and demonstrates that Belarusian culture remains vibrant, contemporary, and in demand”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also emphasized Prague’s special role in supporting Belarusian culture, as the Czech capital, for many years, has been a place where Belarusian artists, intellectuals, and cultural figures could find space for free work and self-expression.
