April | 2023 | The Museum of Multiethnic Belarusian Emigration

The Museum of Multiethnic Belarusian Emigration

Curated by Students at the University of Chicago in Spring 2023

Crossing Into the Belarusian Diaspora

Pictured to above is a Belarusian interpretation of the Eastern Orthodox Cross. The cross, made out of what appear to be several planks of treated laminate wood, is accented with baby blue trim and features a painted depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion, in addition to painted references to heaven and…

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Belarusian Paper Art

Belarusian paper cut-out art depicting rights from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Gifted to Zhanna Charniauskaya by Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski, a Belarusian activist who won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a human rights activist in Belarus. There are 30 paper postcards in the book, each postcard measuring 18×13 cm. Each…

Traditional Belarusian Clothing

This exquisite Belarusian blouse and skirt set is a stunning representation of traditional Eastern European textile artistry. Dating to the 19th century, this homemade ensemble is a testament to the craftsmanship and skill of the Belarusian artisans who created it. The blouse is made of a white cotton fabric, with the sleeves featuring intricate embroidery…

Remembering the Independence of Belarus

Belarus was occupied by the Russian Empire from the 18th century, however, the Treaty of Brest Litovsk resulted in Russia losing the entirety of Ukraine, the Baltic states, and part of Belarus. Although Belarus was still under German control, the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic declared its independence in its Third Constitutent Charter. Without…