Occupied / Unoccupied
20th June 2026 – 13th February 2027 (inclusive)
Occupied / Unoccupied is a photography project by Ukrainian photographer Iryna Sozanska.
In the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iryna photographed her family as they lived under occupation and survived evacuation. Originally taken as family photographs, these images were carried through Russian checkpoints, a journey that changed their meaning and significance. Soon after, Iryna made the decision to leave Ukraine and now lives in Ferndown with her family.
After three years in the UK, Iryna began sharing these memories. She brought together photographs taken during the occupation alongside contrasting moments from her family’s life in east Dorset. In one image, children shelter from flying glass behind a mattress during an attack; in another, those same children play freely on the hills of Badbury Rings.
Alongside the photographs are objects connected to Iryna’s experience and journey, as well as a film that offers a direct and immersive insight into the first days of the war.
Occupied / Unoccupied explores survival, loss and the challenge of adapting to a changed life. It reflects on rebuilding from the beginning, and on the support of those who opened their homes and communities to Ukrainians.
Admission to the exhibition is included in the museum’s standard entry fee.
Meet the Photographer
Iryna Sozanska
Iryna Sozanska is a Ukrainian photographer based in Ferndown, Dorset. She started taking photographs as a way to preserve everyday moments and family life, but her practice changed after she experienced the Russian occupation of her hometown in March 2022.
After being forced to leave with her children, photography has since become a way to document reality and process personal experience.
Drawn to quiet and intimate moments connected to childhood, parenthood, and the idea of home, Iryna’s work explores themes of war, displacement, memory, and resilience. Her photography shines a light on how people continue living through uncertainty, and how a sense of home can be carried, lost, and slowly rebuilt.
Occupied / Unoccupied: In Conversation
20th August 2026, 6pm-8pm
Join us for a special evening at the museum celebrating Occupied / Unoccupied.
Occupied / Unoccupied: In Conversation will give visitors exclusive access to the exhibition outside normal museum opening hours, followed by an in-conversation talk with Iryna about her experiences, the stories behind the photographs and how photography and personal objects have helped her document an extraordinary period of her life.
Doors open at 6pm, with entrance via the museum’s Garden Tea Room. The event will include time to view the exhibition, a talk with Iryna, an audience Q&A, Ukrainian nibbles, a drinks reception and a raffle to fundraise for local charity Ukraine Relief.