The Polina Raiko House in Oleshky, Ukraine, was an extraordinary example of naïve art, created by the self-taught artist Polina Raiko. Starting to paint at 69, Raiko spent four years transforming her home into a vibrant, hand-painted gallery, covering every surface with colorful, symbolic imagery inspired by local folklore, religion, and her personal experiences.

Tragically, this unique masterpiece was ruined as a result of  the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam by Russian occupiers on June 6, 2023. Paintings were damaged or lost due to the prolonged exposure to water, raising serious concerns about the preservation of Raiko’s unique artistic legacy.

For Copenhagen Light Festival 2025, Ukraine House in Denmark, in collaboration with the Dutch-Ukrainian Cultural Center “Kastanje” and photographer Kostyantyn Rudeshko, plans to transform its unique balcony — a rectangular prism with a sloping roof hanging over the waters of Copenhagen Harbour – into a virtual recreation of Polina Raiko’s house, allowing Copenhageners and guests of the festival to experience her remarkable artwork, which was ruthlessly destroyed by the Russian war of aggression. Simultaneously, there will be an exhibition inside Ukraine House featuring various materials honoring Raiko’s legacy – photographs of the paintings, archival materials, texts, documentaries about the house and its destruction, and VR-tour.