EU and UNDP to launch ‘Lights Stay On’ photo exhibition at European Parliament, showcasing Ukraine’s resilience

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine are proud to announce the launch of the documentary photo exhibition “The Lights Stay On,” which will be on display at the European Parliament’s Info Hub from 15 to 26 September 2025.

The exhibition provides a powerful visual narrative of Ukraine’s resilience in the face of war, and highlights the enduring partnership between the EU and UNDP in supporting recovery and development across the country. Through the stories and portraits of 15 Ukrainians, the exhibition captures moments of courage, perseverance, and hope.

The official opening will take place on Tuesday, 16 September at 16:00, with addresses from:

• Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament
• Elena Višnar Malinovská, Head of Unit, DG ENEST, European Commission
• Serhiy Tereshko, Deputy Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU
• Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine

The exhibition’s visual concept draws inspiration from René Magritte’s L’état de veille (The Waking State), where glowing windows appear in the sky among drifting clouds. In the Ukrainian context, these illuminated frames evoke war-damaged buildings with shattered walls, where light continues to shine through broken windows — a symbol of life persisting amid destruction.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the EU and UNDP have worked together to restore essential services and rehabilitate social infrastructure in war-affected communities. The photographs on display reflect the breadth of this partnership and the strength of the Ukrainian people.

Where: European Parliament – Info Hub, Esplanade Solidarność 1980, 1050 Brussels, Belgium)

Please register via this link.

Background:

The exhibition was developed with financial support from the EU and UNDP, in collaboration with The Ukrainians Media and creative agency Authera. The contents of the exhibition are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EU or UNDP.

UNDP is grateful to its partners at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine for their continued support.

Media enquiries:

Brussels: Ludmila Tiganu, Communications Specialist, ludmila [dot] tiganuundp [dot] org (ludmila[dot]tiganu[at]undp[dot]org) 

Kyiv: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications, yuliia [dot] samusundp [dot] org (yuliia[dot]samus[at]undp[dot]org)