Ten years ago, documentary photographer Siarhei Leskes planned a remarkable journey into the magical world of rural Belarus. The dream was a series of portraits of the bearers of the most closed and cherished tradition - the healing of the word. He travelled from village to village in search of witches, healers and herbalists. Whispers was published in 2022, and its pages contain unique life confessions and healing practices, marked by the carefully preserved linguistic peculiarities of each whisper, and the actual material from the expeditions, combined with the author's travel notes. The connection to the ancient healing tradition is made through a gallery of authentic images from various places in Belarus. Today there are fewer and fewer whisperers, most of them leave without passing on their skills. But in the pages of this book, the healing words live on in every moment of lively conversations.

In the autumn of 2022, as part of a joint project of the Belarusian-German association Kulturverein Belarus e.V., the independent theatre collective Kupalovytsi staged a sketch of the play "Whisper". This is an attempt to explore and experience the tradition of oral healing, which in Belarus is disappearing with the last speakers. With the help of scenic means we go on a journey to the "people of myth space". The play "Whisper" was created by director Roman Podalyak in collaboration with the author and is a concentrated version of authentic stories. "We tried to preserve the mystique and intimacy of the healing rituals, to bring our characters to life on stage with love and tenderness. These are not only mysterious orders, but also the stories and fates of people whose complex and whirlwind lives coincided with the turn of the century. There is a big gap between us and their generations, as we have urbanised and moved further away from nature. But sometimes simple words and simple things help you to understand who you are, where you come from and where you are going," says the director.

Starring: Sviatlana Anikei, Alexander Malchanov, Dmitry Lukyanchyk.
Directed by - Roman Padalyak.
Scenography - Daria Barkun.
Music - Dmitrijus Lukyanchikas.

A month ago, the documentary photographer Sergei Leskets conceived of a new project for the Belarusian media. Maraj was the grey partner of the most closed and abstract tradition - the healing of words. From time to time, during the holidays, he was looking for a charmer, a healer and a healer. The book "Shept" was published in 2022, and it contains unique life lessons and healing practices, based on the careful attention to the abilities of each template, factual records of the experiments, and the author's own research findings. The contribution to the medical treatment is supported by a gallery of audio-visual images from different parts of Belarus. Today, there are fewer and fewer patients, most of whom are leaving without having given their names to anyone. But on the old pages of the book, the words live on in every corner of the living world.

In the spring of 2022, within the framework of the Belarusian-German cooperation project of the Kulturverein Belarus e.V. and the non-governmental theatre group "Kupalautsy" hosted an exhibition of the play "Schept". This is an attempt to reflect and add to the tragedy of healing with words, which sounds like a time of apocalyptic nostalgia in Belarus. With the help of the people's associations, we are getting back to the "people of the ancient world". The Shapt book is written by the Raman Padalyaks in cooperation with the authors and is a scanned version of the authentic stories. "We have tried to capture the mysticism and chamber-like quality of the rituals of healing, lovingly and lovingly sharing our contributions on the screen. These are not only the names of the people, but also the histories and stories of people whose composed and vibrant lives have been on the line for centuries. There is a gaping hole between us and their pledges, and we have been retreating and have already fallen far behind. But for hours, simple words and simple speeches help us to understand who you are, where you came from and where you are going", the speaker said.

The cast: Sviatlana Anikei, Alyaksandr Malchanau, Dzmitry Luk'yanchyk.
Director - Raman Padalyaka.
Scenography - Dar'ya Barkun.
Music - Dzmitry Luk'yanchyk.