Maria Kolesnikova, a flutist and Belarusian activist, emphasized the importance of art in free societies at the Beehotenfest 2026 in Bonn. Having spent five years as a political prisoner, three of which were in isolation, she stated that individual freedoms can be restricted, but what remains in a person's mind and imagination is uncontrollable.
Art and Freedom
Kolesnikova said: "A person's external freedom can be taken away, but controlling what forms within the individual is much harder." She also noted that for this reason, culture is so important for free societies, and authoritarian regimes view independent art with distrust.
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This Belarusian political activist, who was arrested by Alexander Lukashenko's regime in the summer of 2020, recalled how she carried her world in her mind during her time in prison, which helped her not to feel like a victim. She emphasized that this is the power of art and the reason dictators hate independent art and culture.
Cultural Threats and War
In a panel discussion in Bonn, Kolesnikova referred to Russia's war against Ukraine and said: "This war is not just against Ukraine. It is a war against our values, culture, and civilization." She remembers being in prison when she heard the news of the war in February 2022.
Kolesnikova, who has recently been released and returned to a free life, referred to music as a source of strength and hope. She emphasizes that art can create a space for independent thought and personal interpretations.
At this event, which was attended by over 200 representatives from concert institutions and music festivals across Germany, new forms and methods of music were explored. Steven Walter, the artistic director of Beehotenfest, emphasized the role of art in creating a space for interaction and tolerating ambiguity.
The closing ceremony of Beehotenfest 2026 took place on October 3, coinciding with German Unity Day. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Anja Bilmayer, performed Johannes Brahms' "German Requiem," which symbolizes reconciliation and trust.
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