The Day marked its birthday traditionally, by making presents. Last Friday, its eighth anniversary was marked at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, including an exposition featuring the best works of its fourth photo exhibit (which will remain open till October 30) and the third book of the Library Series, a collection of historical sketches titled Wars and Peace, dealing with Ukrainian-Polish relationships.
A total of 750 works were submitted to this year’s photo exhibit Den’ 04 by 96 photographers from all regions of Ukraine, bringing the total to more than 2,000 photos sent by 596 amateur and professional photographers over the past six years, in which period The Day’s photo exhibit has become a most prestigious annual cultural event in Ukraine. This year’s prize pool amounted to UAH 34,000, not counting the special awards. All this owing to the dedicated efforts of the newspaper’s permanently loyal partners.
The ceremony followed a pattern well known to our photo exhibit devotees, except that this time selecting winners began earlier than the presidential campaign. Every visitor was handed a questionnaire at the entrance to the Ukrainian House’s grand exhibition hall, so he could enter the audience choice winner’s to receive the monetary award.
Larysa Ivshyna, Editor-in-Chief of The Day, addressed the opening ceremony, urging those present to cast their votes, saying, “This will be the first such vote and we must make our honest, unbiased choice, without using any other resources... You have an opportunity to show your mood and preferences.” Larysa Ivshyna stressed that the project provided a competitive environment for Ukrainian press photography.
In her opening address, the Editor-in-Chief of The Day once again emphasized the fact that the contest was based on the best-man basis, rather than on giving prizes to “our people.” She said, “I have mentioned that we have long struggled to achieve the freedom of speech. Now I would like to discuss the freedom of remaining silent. A joke, of course, as we always have topics to discuss — except that we must choose the most adequate terms under the circumstances. The language of photography is extremely expressive, strong, and dynamic. It reflects the great potential of Ukrainian press photography, as evidenced by the photos we have on display here.”
After that, the winners were given their trophies, courtesy of the project’s sponsors, accompanied by countless bouquets and heartfelt words. Some of the photographers proved quite eloquent. Bohdan Barbil from NAK Ukrahrolizing (author of A Woman with a Pepper, Uzhgorod), said, “People in Zakarpattia care little for politics. They know about their land and their able hands, and that this will keep them afloat. I think that everyone should live like that in Ukraine. Hungarians are said to have tortured themselves with spiced food for fifty years, and that the next fifty years will see them suffering from indigestion. I wish The Day to keep feeding us with such spiced food, as it has done for the past eight years, never letting Ukraine sleep without bad dreams about pressing problems; I hope you will keep up the good job for the next fifty years before you can rest on the proverbial laurels...”
The Day’s photo exhibit will continue at the Ukrainian Home till September 30, and will then start on a traditional tour of Ukraine. In the end, The Day will publish the winner’s name in the audience choice standing.
COMMENTARIES
Ivan MALKOVYCH, manager, A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA Publishers:
The most vivid impression is that this photo exhibit is genuine, showing life for what it really is in Ukraine, with more sorrows than joys, but that there are also simple little joys all of us are happy to experience. I do hope that in ten years the photographers won’t be able to take pictures showing human grief, only happiness.
Yuri SHAPOVAL, D.S. (History):
I could see what Ukraine is really all about by exploring The Day’s photo exhibit, offering what I personally describe as off-the-record data. I was thrilled, because I attach major importance to precisely this kind of information. I believe that what makes this photo display especially useful is that Ukraine is portrayed, being viewed from totally different angles. Another advantage is that this exhibit is free of all that official pomp and uniform interpretation. I also think that this makes the difference between this and other such photo exhibits, as between The Day and other periodicals in Ukraine.
The photos on display do not offer a sugar-sweet picture of Ukraine and happy Ukrainians — as seems the standard approach these days. They offer views on different aspects, done by true professionals, portraying scenes from people’s daily life, each having a meaning of its own, including tragic events (the terrorist attack on Beslan or the tragedy at the Krasnolimanska coal mine). I mean, what makes this photo exhibit so very important is that it reflects the dramatic shortcomings as well as advantages and diversities of our life at present. I love this approach.
I might also admit that photography is my hobby, although I specialize in landscapes. My photos show no people. Yet this year’s photo exhibit impressed me so much, I’m sure I’ll alter my specialty and will start taking pictures of people. I could even submit my works to The Day’s next photo exhibit.
Volodymyr PANCHENKO, vice president, Kyiv Mohyla National University:
I am pleased to note that The Day proves keenly aware of every nuance of individual as well as public life. This year’s photo exhibit boasts works capable of raising your spirits, showing all those ups and downs reflected in people’s faces, in joyous and mournful expressions. However, I was especially impressed by photos showing people capable of weathering their personal storms. This is probably what makes the exposition stand out among all the others. The project shows that man can overcome many obstacles, against all odds. I believe that this aspect makes The Day’s photo exhibit inimitable.
Oleh SKRYPKA, artistic director, Vopli Vidopliasova rock group:
I saw photos done at a very high professional level during The Day’s birthday presentation. I only wish that Ukraine looked as good and showed as much taste as it appears to do in The Day’s photo exhibit.
Vlad RIASHYN, CEO, Inter TV Channel:
More often than not, various undertakings celebrate their anniversaries by throwing buffet parties at restaurants. Holding photo exhibits marking a newspaper’s anniversary appears a markedly innovative tradition bespeaking of all those important tasks facing the editors on a daily basis. The exposition includes a multitude of photos, some funny, others sad and deep- reaching.
I was captivated by a photo titled Olenka, a graphic proof that our Slavic women remain beautiful, calamities notwithstanding. Another photo I still vividly remember was titled Ascent, a symbolic picture inspiring one with hope that the conscientious part of the younger generation is the future of this country. Among the entertaining pictures, I’d single out Samozvanets (The Impostor). Here, too, a number of works make one think and take a closer look at certain aspects of our life, which we usually overlook.
Heorhiy KUZMIN, CEO, Editor-in-Chief, Kievskie Vedomosti, Ltd.:
Bohdan Barbyl, second prize winner from Zakarpattia, stated that “We can see Ukraine here without any frills.” I agree. This photo display shows Ukraine for what she really is, illustrating every aspect, in every vivid detail, without that glamour which we find so alien. I also like this exposition because it includes a number of quality works — mainly because it lacks political speculations, which I abhor. This exhibit allowed me to look at Ukraine at a distance, to see precisely how every Ukrainian in the street lived. The exposition offers an extensive view, ranging from political realities to individual tragedies.
I would also like to note the enviable professional level of domestic photographers. I had long known Mykhailo Markiv and Ihor Starostenko as expert press photographers, but this time I discovered a number of new names. I am happy to note that our domestic photography level is steadily on an upward curve, and I think that The Day should be credited for this progress.
Viacheslav YUTKIN, president, Bank NRB Ukraine:
Photography is a way to record history, so you can look at pictures years after and realize exactly what was taking place at the time, in your life, in your country, or in world history. Exploring these photos, I saw Ukraine for what this country really is, with its joys and sorrows, attainments, failures, and doubts... I saw it the way we all see it after turning off the television set and opening another issue of The Day. This photo exhibit allows you to keep a sensitive finger on this country’s pulse. Believe me, this sensation is unique! Impressed by this year’s exposition, we have resolved to double the sum of the next year’s prize.
