WHAT IS THE RECIPE FOR APPLE PIE?
In this project, artist Ludmila Christeseva shares her family’s apple pie recipe alongside the personal story behind it. “Where is my orchard—back home, in Belarus?” the artist asks, inviting other migrants she has met in Sweden to share their own recipes. By exchanging these recipes, Christeseva has succeeded in uncovering personal and intimate narratives, celebrating the diverse backgrounds and traditions that shape our communities. “Sharing something as universal as apple pie allows us to find common ground, honor our heritage, and foster empathy for those whose cultural identities have been affected by displacement. Through this inclusive project, we aim to connect people across Sweden and around the world, building a sense of belonging and solidarity among participants from various backgrounds,” explains Christeseva.
This culinary exchange debuted at the Global Bar Festival in Stockholm on August 20, 2024, and has continued throughout the fall, celebrating the abundance of the local apple harvest. The project has empowered Ukrainian refugees to showcase their baking talents by creating traditional Belarusian recipes with Swedish apples. By blending cultures through shared culinary traditions, the initiative has fostered a sense of unity, resilience, and healing, offering a way to process the profound loss of national heritage. Ludmila Christeseva was invited to showcase the apple pie project to the international community of human rights activists at the Swedish Institute Leadership Conference and the EHU Third Mission Conference.
Currently, Ludmila Christeseva is working on publishing a book titled The Best Apple Pie Recipes from Political Prisoners, engaging in a creative dialogue with Belarusian artists, journalists, and activists in exile.
WE HAVE PLANTED AN APPLE TREE FOR DEMOCARCY IN BELARUS
On June 1st, 2024, Belarusian female artists planted an apple tree as a symbol of democracy and hope. This public art project signifies the patience and resilience necessary for meaningful change and the eventual end of dictatorship. The exact location of the “Tree of Democracy” in Belarus will remain confidential until it is safe to reveal. The project stands as a testament to the strength of the opposition movement and the enduring hope for a democratic future.
Following the planting, a series of events have been organized to celebrate the apple tree’s symbolism through the medium of apple pie. In Sweden, curator Ludmila Christeseva has scheduled a series of Swedish fika art talks that feature apple pie, infused with themes of ecology and democracy. These events aim to engage the art and activist communities in discussions that blend apple pie recipes with personal stories about childhood memories, family traditions, and cultural identities affected by displacement.
MANIFEST OF BELARUSIAN ARTISTS
The story of Belarus today can be understood through the act of baking an apple pie without its main ingredient. The apples are not from my garden or tree, so it will never taste the same. And I have no one to share it with—my friends are in jail. My country, once abundant in culture and outstanding souls, is now under siege. My home, filled with family narratives, has been taken away. Such emptiness is impossible to fill.
I stand under the shadow of an apple tree, longing for my Belarus—a land stripped of its native language, with people who have no roots and no place to return to. I try to enjoy the apple pie. I swallow. The taste is hollow, not the same. The experience is incomplete. It embodies the pain and loss the Belarusian people endure as we wait for the day when the apple tree our grandparents planted will once again bear fruit, and the essence of Belarus will be restored for each of us.
Until then, I hold onto sharing my story, my heritage, and my dream of a homeland through baking apple pie that doesn’t taste the same.
MY APPLE TREE BEHIND BARS
The video My Apple Tree Behind Bars is a powerful expression of the experiences of Belarusians living in exile. It is an animated documentary created by Belarusian artist Liliya Busarava through a cross-cultural collaboration. Our goal is to draw attention to the injustices of the Lukashenko regime and support political prisoners by raising awareness and fostering solidarity. Through these initiatives, we strive to amplify the voices of those affected and advocate for their rights and freedom.
