They sow themselves, growing from seeds that have freeloaded here by gravity and gusts of wind. Self-seeders are untamed and uninvited, and as they grow without human intervention, they are often subject to control or eradication by the established order. A selection of the work of three generations of women artists featured in the exhibition evokes the associations of independence, determination and toughness encapsulated in nature. 

The exhibition opens with prints by Teresa Jakubowska, which tell intimate stories from the life of the artist, born in Vilnius in 1930, including her experiences of war, expulsion and life in the post-war and socialist reality. She got married at a young age, and her marriage ended after barely nine years. She raised her children alone and bravely decided to move home and pursue her profession. Carved in wood or linoleum, the artist’s observations and reflections highlight women’s daily contributions: caring for others, nurturing relationships, and fighting for the right to equal self-determination. 

Women’s determination and courage are also depicted in the works of Ala Savashevich. As an element of armour used for self-defence, the shields symbolise vigilance in the face of incoming blows, but also a state of readiness to repel them. Savashevich’s creations are made by using the technique of straw inlaying, creating a camouflage pattern with different types of flowers blooming in between. Today, shields are only used by uniformed services around the world to quell riots and protests. This is why the roses, tulips, orchids and lilies in Savashevich’s cycle are associated with the flowers held by demonstrators already from the 1960s as part of the opposition to the Vietnam War to the mass protests in Belarus in 2020 against Lukashenko’s regime and the brutality of the police. An important role in these events was played by the mass actions of Belarusian women, who expressed their disagreement without resorting to violence, thus creating a sense of solidarity in Belarusian society.