Darya Svertilova
documentary
art
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), in collaboration with Ukrainischer Verein Mainz e.V. and photographer David Yampolsky, realized a photo exhibition dedicated to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It was presented on May 14, 2022, at the Gutleut gallery in Mainz, Germany. The Kyiv Photography School and the National Society of Photo Artists of Ukraine also joined the organization of the exhibition.
"...Images of ruthless devastation, the horrific war of Russia against Ukraine. 'It was an order, sorry,' — written on the wall in Bucha. Before and after, they shot houses with tanks, raped and tortured women and children. Another order?..."
The exhibition features works by photographers Mstyslav Chernov, Kostyantyn Sova, Volodymyr Ogloblin, Oleksandr Zvir, Max Levin, Mariana Kushnir, Yevhen Maloletka, Serhiy Mykhalchuk, Yurko Dyachyshyn, Oleksiy Furman, and Sasha Maslov.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), in collaboration with the Ukrainian Student Society "Sich" and the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Graz, have realized a series of photo exhibitions titled "Moments Among the Ruins. Documentary Photographs from Ukraine. People at War." These exhibitions are dedicated to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The displays were presented at the premises of the University of Graz named after Karl-Franz and the Technical University of Graz.
The exhibitions showcased photographs taken by Ukrainian documentarians since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Penetrating and shocking shots reveal the terrible devastation in Ukrainian cities and the countless broken human fates. These images help to understand how war can influence - and is already affecting - all of Europe.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Cyprus, organized a series of exhibitions titled "Tragedy of the 21st century in the centre of Europe", which took place in the cities of Nicosia, Sotira, and Larnaca. The events were charitable, and visitors had the opportunity to donate to the Journalism Emergency Fund, which supports journalists and photographers.
The horrifying and brutal images of the war presented to the viewers represent the reality in which the Ukrainian people have been living for over three months. It's a reality hard to believe in the 21st century. The obliteration of cities and villages, missile and artillery strikes on residential areas, thousands of dead and tortured civilians, and hundreds of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Ukraine. This nightmare continues. And Ukraine needs massive support from the global community to win this ruthless war and to restore its right to a free life and democratic values.
The exhibitions featured photographs by Mariana Kushnir, Vyacheslav Ratynsky, Oleksiy Furman, Alina Smutko, Max Levin, Katerina Moskalyuk, Serhiy Mykhailchuk, Serhiy Korovayny, Pavlo Dorogoy, Yurko Dyachyshyn, Yevhen Maloletka, and Mstyslav Chernov.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), in collaboration with the Society of Ukrainians in Finland, the media project Ukraїner, and individual photographers, have realized the exhibition "The Price of Freedom", which opened on June 11, 2022, at the Central Railway Station in Helsinki.
Ukrainians pay a high price for the freedom of their country. Both defenders on the frontlines and civilians in their cities and villages are forced to endure the horrors of war. Ukrainians lose their homes and their loved ones. The war brings anxiety, devastation, separation, and suffering to almost every family. For many, peaceful life remains only in memories.
This exhibition is about the human cost of Russian aggression in Ukraine. The photos tell stories of the grief and loss of Ukrainians, as well as mutual assistance and collective resistance. The display also includes images of Ukraine before the invasion, to remind us of how easily war can disrupt peaceful life, even in a European country in 2022.
The exhibition features photographs by Yurko Dyachyshyn, Vyacheslav Ratynsky, Alina Smutko, Serhiy Mykhailchuk, Serhiy Korovayny, Pavlo Petrov, and Mstyslav Chernov.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), in collaboration with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, PinchukArtCentre, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and the online publication "Ukrainska Pravda", implemented a project presenting an exhibition about Russia's war crimes in Ukraine. The opening of the "Russian War Crimes House" took place on May 23, 2022, in Davos, Switzerland.
This year, Russia was absent in Davos, but its crimes will not go unnoticed. The Russian War Crimes House is located in the building of the former "Russian House". It's a symbolic gesture that drew the world's attention to the reality regarding Russia. A country that not only invaded a peaceful nation but also actively attacks the civilian population of Ukraine, committing real atrocities such as rapes, executions, and bombardments. The exhibition features photographs taken throughout Ukraine from the beginning of the war until early May. The project depicts only a small fraction of the known crimes. However, in this way, the exhibition gives faces and names back to Ukrainians who have become statistics. Thanks to it, numbers become humans again, and amid the vast number of crimes, some victims get the opportunity to speak out and share their story.
The "Russian War Crimes House" consisted of an exhibition and a series of discussions. Political, economic, and social leaders from Ukraine and around the world examined the Russian invasion and Russian war crimes. They provided comments on the current situation in Ukraine and explored possible scenarios for holding the perpetrators accountable.
"Participants of the World Economic Forum will be able to see the evidence and hear the stories of some of the victims, which will provide a real insight into the pain and devastation inflicted by Russia and, more importantly, the true strength and uniqueness of the Ukrainian people," emphasized the organizers of the exhibition.
At the opening, among others, the mayors of the Ukrainian cities Bucha and Melitopol, which suffered from the Russian invasion, spoke. Also speaking were the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Irina Venediktova, the Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights, Lyudmila Denisova, and a doctor from Mariupol, Oksana Kirsanova, who shared her personal story of working under the city's blockade conditions.
On July 8, within the framework of the annual WARM Festival 2022, the "Mariupol" exhibition was opened, featuring works by documentarians and this year's laureates of the Georgiy Gongadze Prize — Mstyslav Chernov and Yevhen Maloletka. The festival took place in Sarajevo, in the building of the Red Cross Society.
The exhibit showcased works created from the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion on February 24th until mid-March. The aftermath of the bombings of the maternity hospital and residential areas, ruins, mass burials, city residents hiding in basements and shelters, overcrowded hospitals — the documentarians managed to capture the atrocities of the Russian army and present them to the world. At that time, they were the only photographers covering events in besieged Mariupol, risking their lives.
On September 29, at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, the opening of the photo exhibition "Spalah. Ukrainian Photography Today" took place. The project was implemented by the National Center "Ukrainian House" and the NGO "Platform for Cultural Initiatives" in cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers and with the support of the Press, Education, and Culture Department of the US Embassy in Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has primarily highlighted those forms of art and instrumental means capable of instantly reflecting reality. Among them is photography, which has become the main medium reflecting the events of the war and illuminating the diversity of experiences and the present of Ukrainians. This experience cannot be conveyed in words, but it can be lived through frozen images captured by the camera shutter. In the process of reflecting the hot flow of events, documents, reports, and chronicles gain particular importance. The relentless truth of the cold lens is enlivened by the sensual gaze of the artist. It is this gaze that transforms direct fixation into a moving image that has a strong aesthetic impact and creates space for empathy.
Working in the field of history is a challenge. Today, photographers' works have become part of the information war, the war of images and narratives, where they are forced to confront artificially generated fakes. Ultimately, photography is one of the influential tools that convey the truth of the war to the world and offer solidarity and support to Ukraine.
Exhibition participants:
Taras Bychko, Viera Blansh, Andriy Boyko, Roman Bordun, Yelizaveta Bukreyeva, Valeriy Veduta, Oleksandr Glyadyelov, Serhiy Hudak, Bohdan Hulyay, Artem Humilevskyi, Olena Grom, Oleg Dimov, Maksym Dondyuk, Pavlo Dorohoy, Olga Drozd, Yurko Dyachyshyn, Ihor Yefimov, Yevheniy Zavhorodniy, Pavlo Itkin, Anya Kysla, Kirill Kovalenko, Dmytro Kozatskyi, Vladyslav Krasnoshchok, Zhenya Laptyi, Dmytro Lobko, Yefrem Lukatsky, Ksenia Marchenko, Pavlo Mazay, Serhiy Melnychenko, Vira Mynailo, Serhiy Mykhalchuk, Stanislav Ostrous, Mykhailo Palinchak, Yulia Po, Tetyana Ruda, Yana Sidash, Kostyantyn Sova, Bronislav Tutelman, Maksym Finogeyev, Nazar Furyk, Oleksiy Furman, Petro Chekal, Ihor Chekachkov, Oleksandr Chekmenyov, Volodymyr Cheppel, Hennadiy Chernega, Mstyslav Chernov, Julie Poly.
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As part of this year's Czech Photo Festival, on October 12, an exhibition titled "The Siege of Mariupol - The Last Journalists in the Occupied City" was opened at the Czech Photo Center Gallery in Prague. The exhibition features world-renowned works by Mstislav Chernov and Yevhen Maloletka. The project was realized by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) in cooperation with Czech Photo and the Association of Professional Photographers of the Czech Republic (APF).
Using satellite phones in a city that had nearly half a million inhabitants before the war, journalists reported on survival without electricity, communication, water, and food. Thanks to their work, the world learned about the bloody atrocities committed by the Russians during the city's occupation, including the attack on the Mariupol Maternity Hospital, which became one of the symbols of the cruelty of this war.
Their vivid visual testimonies, which appeared in media outlets worldwide, drew disapproval from the Russian establishment. This revealed a stark contrast to their propaganda, which led to the journalists being blacklisted. In critical moments, they hid in a hospital in Mariupol, disguising themselves as medical professionals. From there, they were evacuated by the Ukrainian military.
"We were doing a reportage in the hospital when armed people appeared in the corridors. Surgeons gave us doctor's coats as camouflage. At dawn, a dozen soldiers burst into the hospital again. 'Where the hell are the journalists?' they asked. I looked at the bandages on their arms - blue, Ukrainian - and wondered how likely it was that they were disguised Russians. I stepped forward to introduce myself. 'We came to rescue you,' " says Mstislav Chernov, a photographer and filmmaker.
Both authors became members of the international jury of the 28th Czech Press Photo contest this year.
Pelt (Belgium), Houston (USA), Prague, Heb (Czech Republic)
UAPP in collaboration with colleagues from the Association of Professional Photographers of the Czech Republic and the Federation of European Photographers, opened a series of exhibition projects of UAPP participants titled 'They are fighting for us' in the Czech Republic, Belgium and USA.
The exhibition featured over 200 photographs documenting the expressive evidence of Russian aggression and genocide, the lives of ordinary people in war, and the courageous struggle of the Ukrainian people not only for their own freedom but for the freedom of the whole world.
The project had a great impact and helped the international community to feel and understand more deeply how war can and does affect the entire civilized world. The curators and participants drew attention to crucial issues such as security, peace and freedom. Ultimately, photography has become one of the most influential tools that bring the truth of war to the world, directly influence strategic decision-making, and, in the end, give Ukraine solidarity and support.
The photo book "Brave to Bring the Light" about the most difficult winter in the history of independent Ukraine so far includes photographs by more than 30 Ukrainian authors who documented the energy crisis caused by the Russian military's attack on Ukrainian infrastructure facilities during the fall of 2022, winter and spring of 2023. But above all, this is a visual publication about the struggle of Ukrainians for light, both inside and outside, and about the courage of each and every one of them to continue working in their fields, because darkness disappears where light comes out. The publication includes a foreword by the famous Ukrainian cultural figure Vlad Troitsky, as well as accompanying texts to three chapters and captions to the authors' photographs that further expand the context.
Tbilisi (Georgia), Bern (Switzerland)
On May 5, Factory Gallery, Tbilisi, hosted the opening of the exhibition "Ukrainian Guernica", which aims to draw attention to the war in Ukraine and present documentary evidence of Russia's illegal aggression and war crimes to the world. The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.
The exhibition consists of more than 40 photographs taken by international and Ukrainian photographers during the two months of the war, as well as documented audio and video files. The exhibition features works by Pavel Petrov, Yevhen Maloletka, Mstislav Chernov, Alex Kent, Christopher Occhicone, Ron Gaviv, and others.
On the anniversary of the Russian invasion, an event for Swiss politicians and the international diplomatic corps was held in the Swiss city of Bern to explain what Ukraine is fighting for and how important it is to get support from other countries to preserve Ukrainian statehood and culture.
The Ukrainian Guernica photo-documentary exhibition is yet another proof of the need to unite the entire democratic world to confront the evil empire.
The project was realized in cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, curators Serhiy Kerbytskyi and Yevhen Bereznytskyi, and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, in cooperation with St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Atlanta, organized a series of exhibitions "Ukraine on my mind" that took place in Atlanta in August and November 2022. The events were charitable, and visitors had the opportunity to donate money to the 2402fund, which supports journalists and photographers.
The terrible and brutal images of war that are presented to the viewer are the reality that the Ukrainian people have been living in ever since the bloody attack by Russia. It is a reality that is still hard to believe because it is happening in the 21st century. The destruction of cities and towns, rocket and artillery attacks on residential areas, thousands of dead and tortured civilians, hundreds of soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation of Ukraine. This nightmare continues. And Ukraine needs the enormous support of the international community to win this ruthless war and restore its right to free life and democratic values.
Groningen (Netherlands)
This exhibition presents the richness of Ukrainian photography over five decades. It begins in the 70s, at a time when Ukrainian visual art began to publicly express its own language, and ends with the war that is currently engulfing the country. "Ukraine - The Path to Freedom" visualizes key events in the history of Ukraine and examines the development of photography during this period. The exhibition aims to show how closely the socio-political and artistic life in the country is connected.
The exhibition consists of four parts, corresponding to four recent historical periods, and offers works by several generations of Ukrainian authors. It shows how photography works on many social levels: as a method of recording change, as a form of protest, personal history, reflection on events, and political statement.
Art is a mirror of society, and photography in particular can be a means of deeper cultural understanding and interaction. It tells how Ukraine is following the historical path of struggle for freedom, for its borders, right to existence, culture and future. As recent events prove, the price of this struggle is high.
Graz (Austria),Vienna (Austria)
On the occasion of the Holodomor Remembrance Day, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers in cooperation with the Center for Austrian-Ukrainian Cultural Studies, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Austria, the Ukrainian Student Society "Sich" in Graz and the Ukrainian Research and Education Center for Holodomor Studies (HREC) created a documentary exhibition "The Holodomor and War. Ukraine in 1932-1933 and 2022".
The exhibition features photographs by Austrian engineer and photographer Alexander Wienerberg (1891-1955) and UAPF members Mstyslav Chernov, Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov, Viacheslav Ratynskyi, Yevhen Maloletka, Mykhailo Palinchak, and Serhii Korovainyi.
Aleksandra Wienerberg secretly took and smuggled about 100 photographs depicting the aftermath of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-1933, an artificially created mass famine that claimed the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Wienerberg's works are the only photographic evidence of the genocide in the city.
The photographs of Ukrainian documentary filmmakers complement the exhibition with current events in Ukraine and are undeniable evidence of the genocide in Ukraine in 2022.
Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania)
A number of Hunger as a Weapon exhibitions were organized by the Lithuanian Center for Genocide and Resistance Studies and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers.
An integral part of the exhibition were photographs of the war and its aftermath in Ukraine taken by Ukrainian documentary filmmakers, including UAPP members. The exhibition aimed to draw attention to the devastating impact of hunger as a weapon of war and oppression in the country. The exhibited photographs document the consequences of military invasion, famine and food insecurity for the Ukrainian people throughout history.
The exhibitions also highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the country.
The opening was attended by representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine and various organizations. The exhibit sparked important discussions about the role of hunger in fueling the conflict and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The exhibitions serve as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of using hunger as a weapon and the importance of addressing this issue for peace and stability in the country.
Leipzig, Bonn (Germany)
A major exhibition project "INDEPENDENCE! Photographs of Ukraine 1991-2022".
The works of famous Ukrainian photographers presented at the exhibition show that the outbreak of war in 2022 is not the beginning, but a dramatic escalation of the long-standing conflict between the two states. They tell the story of Ukraine's eventful history from the time of its declaration of independence in 1991 to the present day.
Kyiv (Ukraine)
The exhibition featured more than 100 photographs by Vyacheslav Ratynsky, Serhiy Mykhalchuk, Mykyta Zavilinsky, Yuriy Stefaniuk, Oleksiy Furman, Mykhailo Palinchak, Mstyslav Chernov, Yevhen Maloletka, Andriy Dubchak, Kostyantyn and Vlada Liberov, Serhiy Korovainyi, Valentyn Kuzan, and Yulia Kochetova, which documented changes in the modern Ukrainian army and society.
Among the key topics covered by the exhibition were the first days of the invasion, when the country became united to repel the aggressor; new units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, without which the army is no longer imaginable; the development of tactical medicine that saves lives and gives hope; aerial reconnaissance and the use of UAVs to ensure that the aggressor does not feel safe at any time; international cooperation and weapons of victory from our partners; military assistance to civilians in our country, because humanity is our strength and inspiration; national symbols of invincibility and struggle.
Every day, the country is protected by people who have made the choice to put on a uniform and fight for freedom. Every minute, the Armed Forces of Ukraine steadfastly guard the national interests of the country and protect our highest value - Independence.
The special issue includes 155 of the most powerful documentary images of the full-scale war by the country's leading photographers, as well as texts by famous Ukrainian writers and publicists.
The cover image is a shot of a Ukrainian officer of the Special Operations Forces "Scythian" coordinating the actions of his team during a night mission on the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, on June 16, 2023, by Mstyslav Chernov, founder of UAPP.
The 155 photos in the issue were not chosen by chance. This is an allusion to 155 mm, the caliber of Western weapons that the Ukrainian Armed Forces receive from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, and other partners, and with which Ukraine is fighting more successfully.
"Russia's war against Ukraine is changing world history. And Ukrainians, with their courage in confronting the aggressor and defending their country and its values, are becoming an example for the entire civilized world." - Danylo Pavlov, photo editor at Reporters.
The purpose of the English-language special issue of Reporters is to encourage the West to continue supporting Ukraine. A part of the issue will be distributed through diplomatic missions and organizations abroad. You can purchase the magazine here.
The exhibition project, created in cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPF) and IST Publishing, is being implemented as part of the presentation of the book of the same name, which reflects the life of Ukraine during the difficult period of winter blackouts in 2022-2023, as well as the courage of energy workers and every citizen of Ukraine.
"The project reflects a lot of hope and values that unite us all. Through the documentation of the war, we see that even in extremely difficult conditions, Ukrainians continue to fight."
Photos of the most difficult winter from almost all regions of Ukraine are presented at the exhibition and have become another document of the war that will be seen by the whole world.
Among the authors involved in the project:
Andrii Poleshko, Andrii Yakymenko, Anton Fedorov, Vadym Sarakhan, Viacheslav Ratynskyi, Hanna Kopylova, Hryhorii Vepryk, Dmytro Hreshko, Yevhen Zavhorodnii, Yevhen Malolietka, Mykhailo Palinchak, Mstyslav Chernov, Nazar Parkhomyk, Nazar Furyk, Oleh Petrasyuk, Oleksandr Popenko, and Oleksii Filippov, Olena Pakhomova, Olena Titarenko, Pavlo Petrov, Pavlo Podufalov, Polina Polikarpova, Roman Ketkov, Ruslan Syngaevsky, Sasha Maslov, Serhiy Denysenko, Serhiy Kovalev, Serhiy Korovainy, Serhiy Melnychenko, Serhiy Mykhalchuk, Serhiy Morgunov, Serhiy Ristenko, Serhiy Sivyakov, Yurko Dyachyshyn.
During 2023-2024, the exhibition was presented in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv.
"Through the documentation of the war, we see that even in extremely difficult conditions, Ukrainians find a way to learn, create, work. To continue the fight."
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WEYUAPP is an art project created by Italian photographer Lisa Borgiani in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP). It is a continuation of the series “What Does Europe Mean to You?” (WEY), which explores the sense of European identity through personal stories and visual images of people from European countries.
Four Ukrainian photographers: Katya Moskalyuk (Lviv), Olga Kovalova (Kharkiv), Mykhaylo Palinchak (Kyiv), and Tim Melnikov (Odesa) created a series of photographs where each portrait reveals one feeling, one name, and one location related to Europe.
The photographs depict people the photographers met in four cities and asked them one simple question: “What does Europe mean to you?”. The project aims to reflect the diversity of views on European identity, showcase the cultural and linguistic richness of Europe, and stimulate reflection on the concept of "Europeanness".
WEYUAPP becomes an important contribution to the discussion on European identity in the context of contemporary political and social changes, giving a voice to Ukrainians and offering them a chance to share their thoughts and feelings about Europe.
What is Europe to you? Help, future, example!
Andriy, 25 years old, call sign “Spoke”, driver of the armored vehicle.
Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 14, 2024
What is Europe to you? Europe is a certain type of thinking
Evgeniy and Alexandra, 37 and 28 years old, military officers.
Ukraine, Odessa, "Langeron" beach
February 23, 2024
What is Europe to you? Europe is the challenging path of our country towards the goal.
Yakiv Liashenko, owner of a sewing production, volunteer, photographer.
What is Europe to you? Europe is cultural diversity.
Yurii, Lecturer at the Department of Tourism.
The project will be exhibited in Ukraine and other European countries. It also has a website and social media pages where you can learn more about it and its participants.
WEYUAPP is a true artistic journey that reveals European identity through personal stories and emotions captured in photographs.
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The edition with photos of leading photographers documenting Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was presented by the Ukrainian House in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. The book is based on pictures that were exhibited in October 2022 in the exhibition project “FLASH”. The goal is to preserve and disseminate the evidence of the events of the war through the author's optics of leading Ukrainian photographers.
The exposition included 500 works of Ukrainian photographers, among which, in particular, participants of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers: Mstislav Chernov (founder of UAFF), Taras Bychko, Alexey Furman, Pavel Dorogoy, Sergey Melnychenko, Igor Chekachkov, Yevgeny Zavgeny Yurko Diachishin, Yurko Diachishin, Yana Kononova, Sasha Maslov, Mykhailo Palinchak, Olena Grom, Sergey Mikhalchuk and Serhiy Korovainy.
“Forming the dramaturgy of the album, we sought to present the fullness of the author's statements, to show a wide range of emotions — not only through war photography, but also through modern Ukrainian in general: street, studio, landscape, portrait, chamber scenes, nudes,” says the curator of the project Alice Grishanova.
In terms of idea and content, the album “Flash” conveys the reality and multilayedness in which Ukrainians live and fight for victory.
Irpin, Bucha, Saltovka in Kharkiv, mass burial in Izyum, Kakhovsk hydroelectric power plant, counter-offensive of the Armed Forces in the South — these and other footage of key events of the war are presented in the publication. The reference point for the selection of photos was the date of February 24, 2022.
Alina Hrishanova emphasizes that war photography and wartime photography are not identical phenomena: “But taken together they form a general picture of the tragedy, reflect the theater of hostilities, the heroics of resistance, the history of people, their psychological state, death and life, pain and hope.”
“Photos that instantly spread across social networks around the world played an extremely important role in the perception of the war,” says Olga Vieru, director of the Ukrainian House. “Their influence is difficult to overestimate, because it was they who discovered the truth and shaped the attitude to certain events. Emotional response to truthful photos helped resolve the issue of comprehensive support for Ukraine in the civilizational battle at the world's leading diplomatic and political platforms.”
Most of the bill will be transferred to public institutions as well as project partners in order to communicate this evidence to a wide audience inside and outside the country. The album was published by Ukrainian House with the support of Ukrgasbank. Typography — “From A to Z”.
Kyiv (Ukraine)
On the anniversary of the Battle of Bakhmut, we have organized a retrospective of the tragedy of World War II and the present, united by the common theme of two genocides.
In partnership with Babyn Yar, this exhibition presents a retrospective of past and present tragedies in Bakhmut. Photographs, videos, archival documents, and eyewitness accounts reveal a horrific picture of genocide that has the same face - a totalitarian regime with a hateful ideology.
Thanks to visual comparisons of these events, visitors were able to feel and understand the tragedy of the events and the horrors of the occupation, both for the locals and for the city as a whole. Together, all the participants were able to create an exhibition that highlights the history and occupation of Bakhmut over the past 100 years.
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New York (USA)
A photo exhibition dedicated to the upcoming FRONTLINE project of PBS and the Associated Press. The exhibition featured the works of Ukrainian documentary filmmakers, members of the UWPP and Pulitzer Prize winners Mstislav Chernov and Yevhen Malolletka.
"There were no funerals. There were no public gatherings to honor those who died during Russia's incessant attacks on the port city of Mariupol, which has become a symbol of Ukraine's fierce resistance. Only mass graves reminded us of the city under siege."
The world would not have seen any of this if it were not for the team of Associated Press journalists Mstislav Chernov and Yevgeny Malolletko, who were in the city when the invasion began. They stayed in Mariupol even after it became one of the most dangerous places on earth. For more than two weeks now, they have been the only international media in the city and the only journalists able to transmit video and photos to the outside.
Thanks to their work, the world learned about the bloody atrocities committed by the Russians during the capture of the city, including the attack on the Mariupol maternity hospital, which became a symbol of the brutality of this war.
On December 3, 2020, Hryhorii Skovoroda's birthday, the facade of the 120-year-old House of Dragons, an abandoned building at 19 Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv, was transformed into a gallery.
The Sleeping House installation was created as part of the Peeping Through Windows project. The exhibition was organized by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers in cooperation with the NGO Renovation Map. We are grateful for the support of Yulia Klymenko and the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Kyiv City State Administration.
According to the authors, for the exhibition, the facade of the building was turned into a gallery of unique archival portraits of Ukrainians in traditional attire, authored by the famous Ukrainian photographer Ivan Karpov (provided by the Shostka Museum of Local Lore). Closed by computer graphics, the eyes in the photographs symbolize the philosophy of Grigory Skovoroda and the interpretation of the modern world, in which people are increasingly moving away from reality and immersed in the world created by media and advertising. The central element of the exhibition is a large portrait of Grigory Skovoroda (provided by the National Literary and Memorial Museum of G. S. Skovoroda).
"The whole world is asleep," - Skovoroda often repeated. In this, his philosophy echoes Buddhism, where reality is likened to sleep. Researchers of the life and work of Grigory Savich confirm that in the late autumn of 1758 he had a dream: an invisible force showed Skovoroda terrible pictures of human "diversity," reminiscent of Bosch's phantasmagoria - images of the life of magnates and commoners, merchants and priests. This dream, perceived by Gregory as a divine revelation, prompted the philosopher to withdraw from the world and plunge into himself.
"Peeping Through the Windows" is a project that not only offers a glimpse into the faces of a bygone era, but also reminds us of photographers of the beginning of the last century, whose names are known only to connoisseurs of archival photography.
Daria Korba, head of the NGO "Renovation Map," architect: Our goal is to draw the attention of society and the authorities to the problem of the decline of valuable buildings, as well as to popularize the work of Ukrainian photographers and the history of Ukrainian photography. The use of empty windows of an abandoned building as frames for photographs synthesizes the art of photography and architecture. They enrich each other with new meanings and seem to say to the observer: "Conscious efforts to preserve history are necessary in all spheres of the cultural heritage of our people."
The building for the project was also chosen not by chance. The history of the House with Dragons begins at the end of the 19th century. Its first owner was the enlightener Ivan Khilchevsky, known as a fellow countryman and close friend of Panteleimon Kulish, the father of the Ukrainian historical novel and researcher of the work of Grigory Skovoroda. In the poem "Hrytsko Skovoroda" Kulish completed the artistic understanding of the image of a prominent Ukrainian, inscribing it not only in the context of the 18th century, but also in the thousand-year history of Ukraine.
On December 3, 2020, the birthday of Grigory Skovoroda, the facade of the 120-year-old "House with Dragons" - an abandoned building on 19 Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv - turned into a gallery. The installation "Sleeping House" was created as part of the project "Looking through the windows." The exhibition was implemented by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers in cooperation with the public organization "Renovation Map." We express our gratitude for the support of Yulia Klimenko and the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Kyiv City State Administration.
According to the authors, for the implementation of the exhibition, the facade of the building was turned into a gallery of unique archival portraits of Ukrainians in traditional attire. They belong to the famous Ukrainian photographer Ivan Karpov (provided by the Shostka Museum of Local Lore). The eyes closed in the photographs symbolize the philosophy of Hryhoriy Skovoroda and the interpretation of the modern world, where people increasingly distance themselves from reality and immerse themselves in the world created by media and advertising. The main element of the exposition was a large portrait of Grigory Skovoroda (provided by the National Literary and Memorial Museum of G. S. Skovoroda).
"The whole world is asleep," Skovoroda often repeated. In this, his philosophy echoes Buddhism, where reality is compared with sleep. Researchers of the life and creative path of Grigory Savich confirm that in the late autumn of 1758 he had a dream: an invisible force showed Skovoroda terrible scenes of human "difference," reminiscent of the phantasmagoria of Bosch - with the life of nobles and commoners, merchants and priests. This dream, perceived by Gregory as a divine revelation, prompted the philosopher to renounce the world and delve into himself.
"Peeping Through the Windows" is a project that not only offers a glimpse into the faces of a bygone era, but also reminds of photographers of the beginning of the last century, whose names are known only to connoisseurs of archival photography.
Daria Korba, head of the NGO "Renovation Map," architect: "Our goal is to draw the attention of society and the authorities to the problem of the decline of valuable buildings, as well as to popularize the work of Ukrainian photographers and the history of Ukrainian photography. The use of empty windows of an abandoned building as frames for photographs synthesizes the art of photography and architecture. They enrich each other with new meanings and seem to say to the observer: "Conscious efforts to preserve history are necessary in all spheres of the cultural heritage of our people."
The choice of building for the project was not accidental. The history of the House with Dragons began in the late 19th century. Its first owner was Ivan Khilchevsky, known as a fellow countryman and great friend of Panteleimon Kulish, the father of the Ukrainian historical novel and researcher of the work of Grigory Skovoroda. Kulish in the poem "Hrytsko Skovoroda" completed the artistic understanding of the image of a prominent Ukrainian, placing it not only in the context of the 18th century, but also in the thousand-year history of Ukraine.
Yaroslavov Val, 15 - a building that is an architectural monument and was built in Soviet times as a hotel "Star." In the courtyard (st. Yaroslavov Val, 15b) from the beginning of the last century there was a mansion of prominent Kyiv residents - the Sikorsky family. Ivan Sikorsky was a famous Kyiv doctor, and his son Igor was an inventor, known as the "father" of the helicopter. In 1910, Igor Sikorsky first took to the skies of Kyiv on an aircraft of his own design.
The exhibition "Living" "Peeping through the Windows" was implemented with the support of the Kyiv Charity Society and the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPF). The project passed the competitive selection of the Expert Council of the Society and was supported by benefactors of the city.
The aim of the project is to use the original form of presentation of art: the use of empty windows of buildings as frames for photographs and the transformation of the facades of old abandoned buildings into a live exhibition. This technique was used in the design of buildings in the center of Warsaw, Vilnius and other European capitals.
This was stated by Mstislav Chernov, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPF): "Peeping at the Windows" is a step towards the revival of traditional Ukrainian photography. It is very important for us that all the photographs used are made by Ukrainian photographers working within modern Ukraine, and are known for their skill in Russia and Europe. Urban art is a new approach to classical photography that will make it interesting and relevant, and we hope that it will find the support of patrons and people who are simply not indifferent to their city."
The project "Ukrainian Archival Photography" is a non-commercial initiative of the public organization "Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers" (UAPP). The project aims to research and popularize Ukrainian archival photography, to create a comprehensive vision of the development of photography in Ukraine, as well as to promote the culture of preservation and research of the photographic heritage.
The tasks of the project are:
"At one time, the Bolsheviks managed to pretend that until 1917, there was no Ukrainian photography," says Mstyslav Chernov, the CEO of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers. "And the talented Ukrainian craftsmen of the first quarter of the 20th century (well known in Europe, by the way) turned out to be forgotten in Ukraine. We have only started working with archives; it's a vast layer. As a first step, we'd like to at least draw attention and remind that there's also such a page in Ukrainian art."
(Note: The translation provided aims to preserve the meaning and context of the original text, though slight adjustments were made for clarity and natural English expression.)
We focus on educational, social, research and cultural projects for the development and popularization of Ukrainian photography aimed at uniting the Ukrainian photo community, promoting cultural exchange, establishing international partnerships and grant cooperation.
Our research projects are aimed at preserving and popularizing the history of Ukrainian photography, documenting and archiving iconic works to make them accessible to future generations.
We conduct a mentoring program and micro-grants for young Ukrainian photographers and artists in the format of online lectures, artist talks, Q&A sessions and individual consultations with mentors.
We organize exhibitions that help Ukrainian photographers to express themselves and their works on a global level. And we apply to the development and popularization of Ukrainian photographic art at the international and national level.
We are engaged in the creation and popularization of photo books that demonstrate the creativity of Ukrainian photographers. Our goal is to ensure a high level of publication and promote their dissemination among a wide audience.
Research Projects
A media and archival project that demonstrated the importance of the transformations our country is going through, as well as the value of documentary photography, which during the war is not just a source of evidence of events, but a powerful weapon against propaganda and falsification of history.
Social Projects
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) in partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charity supported the All-Ukrainian Pajama Day, an event that annually brings together thousands of people to help children stay close to their families during treatment.
Social Projects
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPF) has become a partner of the festival "From Country to Ukraine", which aims to help local communities in eastern Ukraine fill their cities with an atmosphere of unity, support and a sense of Ukrainian spirit.
The photobook, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, was published with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Book Institute. It contains more than 140 unique documentary photographs from over 60 Ukrainian photographers, arranged chronologically from the proclamation of Ukraine's independence to the present day.
UAPP unites professionals from all spheres of commercial, documentary and artistic photography of Ukraine, acting as their official representative, as well as an intermediary in actions within professional photographic activities. We strive to support Ukrainian photographers through training, certification, cooperation and communication.
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
