Hull based artist Yeseniia Serdiuk is set to unveil a powerful new immersive installation at The Freedom Arts Festival this year.
“Through the Ruins.” is a walk‑through miniature environment that invites visitors into a richly detailed, emotionally resonant world. The installation reflects on the human cost of war - its loss, its disruption, and the resilience that emerges in its wake. It will be open to audiences from 2–6 September 2026 as part of the festival programme.
Yeseniia was born in Nikopol, Ukraine, a town that has endured continuous attacks over the past four years. She relocated to Hull in 2023 at just 16 years old. After arriving in England, she discovered art for the first time, and it quickly became more than a pastime. It evolved into a way to speak about experiences that are often difficult to express - shaped deeply by her own memories of conflict. What began as a coping mechanism has grown into a confident and distinctive creative voice.
Since then, she has become an active presence in Hull’s visual arts community. Her work spans public art, community projects and exhibitions - from large scale murals at the Vauxhall Tavern on Hessle Road, to a group exhibition at the Palace of Westminster, and a recent solo show at HUFree Gallery.
Her practice blends miniature model‑making with installation to explore social themes and lived experience. Grounded in ideas of memory, war and resilience, her miniature worlds act as visual narratives that open up conversations around subjects that are often hard to confront.
With “Through the Ruins.” Yeseniia aims to encourage reflection on the human impact of war and displacement. The small scale of her models stands in stark contrast to the enormity of real‑world consequences, creating a space where personal memory meets wider global realities.
