The Belarusian leader handed it over to the Minister-President of Flanders, Jan Jambon, during the meeting of EU culture ministers.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet: “The painting “Belarusian Sun” by Ales Pushkin symbolizes our peacefulness and love for native land.
The frame was made by Ales using old wood from his fence in his village, Bobr. The Belarusian national white-red-white flag always hung on Ales’ house in Bobr, until February 2021 when the police removed the flag in the artist’s absence. We cannot bring back the life of Ales, but we must restore our flag to his house and our motherland.
Please accept this gift as a symbol of our friendship and our gratitude for your support to Belarusians. Ales was a leading figure of Belarusian national revival. In his artworks, he was challenging dictatorship, inspiring people to fight for freedom.
Last year, in July, Ales Pushkin died a political prisoner at the hands of the regime. I feel that a part of us died with him. But I also feel that we must continue his legacy. We must take action now to prevent further deaths of political prisoners”.
Alina Koushyk, Representative of the United Transitional Cabinet for National Revival: “The painting “Belarusian Sun” was painted in 2011. Its presentation to the Flemish government contributes to preserving the memory of our outstanding artist Ales Pushkin. It symbolizes
how our culture belongs to the cultures of the family of European nations. This painting is about the Belarusian sun – a pumpkin, which reflects how Belarusians understand happiness and treat their nature and native land. We are now fighting to win this land back. I am truly pleased that the painting will be exhibited in a museum to become accessible to a wide audience”.