A Ukrainian-born artist is debuting her first sculptural exhibition at Refugee Festival Scotland.
Alena Bezushko, who now lives in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, is showcasing her sculptural exhibition titled The Odyssey: A Journey to the Self at Glasgow’s Civic House from June 17 to 21.
It forms part of the national Refugee Festival Scotland programme, which this year runs from June 12 to 21.
The exhibition explores the emotional and psychological journey of displacement, survival and the search for belonging, drawing on themes from Homer’s Odyssey to reflect the trauma and transformation of forced migration.
Visitors will encounter a series of sculptural objects that explore identity, isolation, stagnation, loss and resilience.
Alena said: "Odyssey is a metaphor for a long, difficult journey – a story about exploring your path, confronting challenges, and searching for your true self.
"Every human being goes through their own odyssey in life, and through this exhibition I hope every visitor will have the opportunity to reflect on that.
"Ultimately, it is about returning to your own soul and finding your inner home, no matter what storms you have had to live through.
"I hope visitors to the exhibition recognise the real person with stories, pain and strength, behind the word ‘refugee’."
Working primarily in ceramics and clay, the artist believes that her chosen materials help her ground her emotions and thoughts into physical form.
She uses ceramic, clay, burnt wood, metal and light in her pieces, which are both deeply personal and symbolic.
Alena said: "I can put my thoughts and emotions straight into the material I use.
"Since clay comes from the earth, working with it gives me a powerful sense of grounding."
Her sculptures also include wood gathered from the Aberdeenshire coast, weathered by the sea and embedded with barnacles and shells.
Scorched and fused with other elements, the wood symbolises transformation and the enduring change that comes with displacement.
Alena said: "This exhibition is deeply personal and symbolic for me.
"It is about my own feelings, my emotions, and my personal journey of trying to find my place in a new country.
"Leaving Ukraine was a very hard experience where I felt like I lost my identity and was no longer myself.
"It is like uprooting an old tree and putting it into completely new soil – my art reflects this painful process of rebuilding my identity and trying to take root in Scotland, using my work to heal.
"Art has become my primary language – it is a universal language that doesn’t need a dictionary.
"Creating these sculptures allows me to speak metaphorically and express heavy feelings and emotions that are too difficult to put into words."
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Being part of Refugee Festival Scotland holds special significance for Alena.
She said: "To present this work as part of Refugee Festival Scotland means everything to me because it is my first exhibition, and it gives me a beautiful feeling that I can finally bring something meaningful into the world.
"It is the perfect, safe space to share my truth and my story.
"Most of all, it is a physical way of connecting with my new home in Scotland.
"Having a platform like this is incredibly important because it changes how the world sees refugees.
"It allows people to see our hearts, our talents, and our dreams, gives us our voices back, breaks down barriers, and helps us build a kinder, shared future together."
The Odyssey: A Journey to the Self will be on display from Wednesday, June 17 to Sunday, June 21, with an opening event at 5pm on Tuesday, June 16, at Civic House in Glasgow.
Refugee Festival Scotland is coordinated by the Scottish Refugee Council and celebrates the art, culture and experiences of refugees and asylum seekers across the country.
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