War suddenly takes away what gives everyday life its meaning: home, close relationships, familiar surroundings, and the certainty that tomorrow will resemble today. What once seemed self-evident becomes fragile and uncertain. It affects children most profoundly, who lose not only their place but, above all, their sense of stability and predictability.
For a child, safety means more than just physical protection. It is bound up with intimacy and the sanctuary that closeness can provide. A safe space need not be permanent or perfect – it is often temporary, made from the simplest elements: a blanket tent, a fort of cushions, or the presence of another person. It is these humble constructions that help restore a sense of calm and control in situations too difficult to comprehend.
This part of the exhibition was developed from workshops led by the artist Halyna Dudar. Children built their own forts – personal hideaways crafted from cushions, fabrics, and simple structures. The question that inspired the activity was: what is home, and what makes us feel safe within it? In their conversations, participants shared their imaginings of objects and people associated with warmth and calm. They spoke of beds, favourite books, loved ones, animals, and soft hideaways where they can be entirely themselves.
In this process, the act of building itself was most important – the opportunity to make decisions, set boundaries, and shape the environment according to one’s own rules. This room is a place to pause and sit beside one another, reflecting on what home means to each of us and what today shapes our sense of safety.
Activities:
How do you define a safe space?
What helps you feel calm?
What belongs in a safe home?
What items would you take to your base?
Sketch or write your response on the wall.
