Just three days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, Jana Rajcová, a Bratislava-based photographer, felt compelled to use her documentary photography skills to make a difference. A graduate of the University of Westminster in London with a background in photojournalism, Rajcová began her project on March 2, 2022, when she met Masha, a Ukrainian refugee being sheltered by a friend. What initially started as a spontaneous effort quickly evolved into a profound mission of storytelling.
“I wanted to restore the dignity of these people in my photographs.”
– Jana Rajcová
Rajcová’s project, Exodus.Report, was first presented during a webinar hosted by Friends of Slovakia (FOS) on April 28, 2022. The webinar focused on “Refugees in Slovakia: The Governmental and Non-Governmental Response,” where Rajcová shared the experiences of Ukrainian refugees who sought safety in Slovakia following the Russian aggression in Ukraine. This project now features nearly 100 portraits and stories, reflecting her deepening commitment to capturing the resilience and humanity of those displaced by the conflict.
Exodus.Report has already been presented to audiences in Bratislava, Slovakia, and now, FOS is sponsoring the project’s first solo US exhibition at the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The exhibit opens on September 19, 2024 and will run through January 26, 2025, marking a significant milestone in Rajcová’s journey as she brings her perspective on Ukrainian refugees to the American Midwest.
According to Slovakia’s Interior Ministry, as of August 25, 2024, almost 126,000 Ukrainians have sought temporary protection in Slovakia since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, one of the highest influxes within the European Union. As the war continues, Rajcová remains dedicated to keeping in touch with her photo subjects, learning about their evolving lives, and sharing moments of connection over coffee. She admires their determination, even as their families are torn apart by the war.
FOS cordially invites you to join us in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library on September 19 for the opening of the Exodus.Report exhibition – a powerful statement of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and their enduring struggle for freedom and democracy.
Learn more about Jana Rajcová and her project, “Exodus.Report,” in an insightful article published in The Slovak Spectator by Mark Dillon, a fourth-generation Slovak-American and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International.
Read more: Slovak artist paused her work to tell the stories of Ukrainian refugees—now she wants Americans to see them.