28/05/2026
Today I was leafing through my old guestbook of my painting exhibitions. I always take it with me to every country where I exhibit, and it's filled in many European languages. Today I came across an entry made by the US Ambassador to Minsk back in 2000. I made my first exhibition at the Minsk House of Friendship of Nations. Among the other visitors, a middle-aged American approached me and asked how long the exhibition would last. I said until the end of the week; I still had a few days left. "Excellent," the American replied, "I really want to come to your exhibition again with my wife and show her your paintings." He handed me his business card and, shaking my hand, left. When he left, I looked at the card and was very surprised because it said: US Ambassador to Belarus Daniel Speckhard. I never saw him again, as I couldn't constantly be at the exhibition, but at the end of the exhibition, I found a memorable entry from him in the guestbook. Still, he came a second time and visited my exhibition together with his wife.
