The annual Re-Lentus cultural dialogue project was particularly distinctive this year due to its expanded geographical scope. In addition to CSN Lab and Cuma Lab, Ambasada Kultury also joined the cultural dialogue-oriented initiative. For the first time, alongside Armenian and Georgian artists, Re-Lentus also included exiled Belarusian women artists, drawing the attention of Armenian and Georgian cultural communities to their artistic practices and political resistance.
Within the framework of Re-Lentus 2025, Belarusian artists Viktoria Hrabennikava, Marina Naprushkina, and Dzina Zhuk presented their artistic trajectories. Their presentations highlighted research-based and interdisciplinary artistic practices developed and refined over the years, addressing the formation of the artist’s role and identity in conditions of migration, as well as queer and feminist approaches.
The online event “Re-Lentus: Art and Resistance. Belarus” was followed by a discussion moderated by Mariam Yeghiazaryan. The discussion focused on the experiences of civic engagement among Belarusian migrant artists, particularly on examining the shifting political context and the methods of creating art within this crisis-driven environment. Each of the artists reflected on the formation of their personal artistic paths, emphasizing the importance of continuing collaboration with artists in Belarus who challenge dominant narratives, even under conditions of repression. The discussion concluded with an interactive game developed by Viktoria Hrabenikava, which introduced participants to the existing challenges surrounding the legal recognition of queer marriage.
The expanded, interregional format of Re-Lentus 2025 holds particular significance for CSN Lab and its partner organizations, whose mission is to foster cultural dialogue beyond borders and regardless of barriers. The program is also important as a space for reflection on gender-related issues and for mainstreaming the experiences of women cultural practitioners.
The Re-Lentus dialogue program is supported by the Danish Cultural Institute as part of the "New Democracy Foundation" project.
