- Free-entry exhibition at the Caldas da Rainha Cultural and Congress Centre until 30 August.
- The work of 16 Ukrainian photographers is accompanied by original texts from five Portuguese writers.
- The President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro, visited the exhibition and highlighted the role of photography in documenting war and preserving memory.
The work of 16 Ukrainian photographers documenting the day-to-day reality of the war in Ukraine is brought together in the international exhibition "They Fight For Us Too", at the Caldas da Rainha Cultural and Congress Centre until 30 August. Part of the programme of F/262 - International Photography Festival, the exhibition's presentation in Portugal is sponsored by TEKEVER and is free to visit.
The exhibition opened on 18 July and explores the reality of the conflict, from the front line to the stories of civilians, refugees, medical teams and affected communities. The images bear witness to the destruction and violence of war, but also to the resilience of a people facing extreme circumstances since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The visual narrative is complemented by original texts from Ana Bárbara Pedrosa, Ana Margarida de Carvalho, Gonçalo M. Tavares, Julieta Monginho and Rui Couceiro, written in response to the photographs on display. This dialogue between photography and literature invites audiences to reflect on memory, war and the human condition.
The opening was attended by Ukrainian photographer Vlada Liberov and Yelyzaveta Kovtun, representing photographer Andrii Dubchak. Together with writers Gonçalo M. Tavares and Julieta Monginho, they took part in a live recording of the Expresso podcast "O Mundo a Seus Pés" ("The World at Your Feet"), held in the Cultural Centre's Small Auditorium and moderated by journalist Ana França.
Produced by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) and the Portuguese association F/SOS - Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais, the exhibition is presented in Portugal under the curatorship of João Carlos, who developed the project in close collaboration with its Ukrainian and Portuguese partners.
Art has the power "to awaken us" and "shake us out of our indifference"
The President of the Portuguese Republic, António José Seguro, visited the exhibition and emphasised the importance of the photographers' work in preserving memory.
In a message dedicated to the exhibition and sent to TEKEVER, the Head of State warns that "a decade of war can, insidiously, trivialise pain and human folly". He adds that the exhibition has the merit of "awaking us up to the suffering of the victims of the war in Ukraine and, with them, the victims of all wars. A bewilderment that grows today, when international current affairs are marked by new threats and the outbreak of new conflicts."
The President also highlights the risks faced by photojournalists documenting conflicts and concludes with an appeal: "May none of us remain indifferent after facing these images."
"They Fight For Us Too": a travelling testament
First presented internationally in 2023, "They Fight For Us Too" was created to preserve the memory of the war through the eyes of those documenting it every day. After travelling to cities including Pelt in Belgium and Cheb in Czechia, the initiative has now arrived in Portugal.
The photographers represented include Vlada and Kostiantyn Liberov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Mstyslav Chernov, Oksana Parafeniuk, Serhii Korovayny, Yevhenii Zavhorodnii and Viacheslav Ratynskyi, among others who have covered the conflict from the front line.
The exhibition includes images of the evacuation of civilians from Irpin during the first days of the invasion, daily life in devastated cities and the work of medical and emergency teams. It also features Evgeniy Maloletka's World Press Photo of the Year-winning photograph, taken in Mariupol following the bombing of the city's maternity hospital.
For TEKEVER, sponsoring the exhibition reflects the company's commitment to initiatives that promote knowledge and understanding of contemporary challenges, as well as the values of freedom, democracy and the preservation of memory. It also reflects the company's connection with Ukraine, where its technologies have been used in surveillance and reconnaissance operations to protect lives and critical infrastructure amid the conflict.
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, said: "Technology enables us to better understand the world around us, but it is people and their stories that give it meaning. Through this exhibition, TEKEVER is supporting the professionals who, with immense courage, document the reality of war and preserve testimonies that must not be forgotten. It is an initiative that promotes remembrance and reflection on the human impact of conflict."
João Carlos, President of F/SOS, said: "Bringing 'They Fight For Us Too' to Portugal was an ambition we shared from the outset of this project. These photographs are far more than documents of war: they are testimonies to interrupted lives, resilience and hope. Including this exhibition in the programme of F/262 - International Photography Festival reinforces the festival's mission to create spaces for dialogue through photography and culture. TEKEVER's support was instrumental in making this presentation in Portugal possible."
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers said: "Since the start of the full-scale invasion, UAPP members have taken on the responsibility of documenting a pivotal moment in history. This exhibition brings together part of that collective body of work and demonstrates photography's fundamental role in preserving memory. Presenting it in Portugal means bringing these stories to new audiences and ensuring they are not forgotten."
