After weeks of hard work, a complicated selection stage (as many as 3,200 photos were sent for Den’s 17th International Photo Contest, and 350 of them have made it to the show!), and solving quite a few organizational issues, we finally have our new exhibition opened to everyone. It is being held in the center of Kyiv and will run till November 15, admission is free.
“We call our photo exhibition the national photobiennale,” Den/The Day’s editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna said. “This year’s Den’s Photo Exhibit offers a continuous cross-section of views: soldiers’ and politicians’, physicians’ and forced migrants’, representing people who differ greatly... A thoughtful visitor should understand this reality. Our photo exhibit offers a venue to many unique things. We have unprecedented number of partners, prizes, complex but talented pictures. The exhibition project began on the same year as the newspaper itself. We made the good photo our ally. Den’s photo contests serve as the best translators to make the world understand our problems. We work to bring about a quality future for Ukraine. Our current troubles and the war were caused by the fact that we did not live quite as our exhibition demanded. Let us change, then!”
TWO STRONG POINTS OF THE EXHIBIT
Photo by Ruslan KANIUKA, The Day
This year, we have two winners of the Grand Prix for the first time! Mykhailo Markiv received the award for his work The System’s Founding Fathers, and Den/The Day’s photographer Ruslan Kaniuka got it for Lady Justice with Eyes Closed photo. Long-standing partner and friend of Den/The Day, first deputy chairman of the board of Prominvestbank Viacheslav YUTKIN, who awards the Grand Prix, explained: “At first I chose three works: they turned out to be linked by a strange thread of current events. Eventually, though, I limited my choice to two. The first, called The System’s Founding Fathers, pictures three presidents of Ukraine – Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko – smiling nicely. Too bad the fourth president was not present there, he would appear very organically next to them. The second photo deals with another part of the system, for picture Lady Justice with Eyes Closed was taken at a hearing of the Gongadze case. I believe the botched investigation of this case to be the most shameful event to happen in this country. Under two out of the three presidents, everything was done to block investigation of this case. These are two most important strong points of the exhibition, which caused other photos to be taken, and all the events reflected by them to happen. In fact, apart from the war, Ukraine has still many problems which are part and parcel of the system. That is, these works show cause and effect at work. One president created a system of corruption, the other failed to seize opportunities open to Ukraine. As a result, a lot of people died, and we have got chaos, poverty, and sorrow plaguing the entire country.”
EMPHASIZING POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS
The Prize of Prizes, Den’s Golden Award, went to photographer Oleksandr Klymenko for work An Ally. The picture shows a stocky man in a flak jacket walking down a broken asphalt path, followed by a skinny boy. Den/The Day’s editor-in-chief Ivshyna commented on this choice: “Our prize points at what we want to emphasize. The photos from which we chose had a lot of doom in them. This picture, however, which we have chosen for the award, reflects a positive change in society. This will not happen immediately, but a major change is coming. It does not always emerge in Kyiv, in the politics, but it is here, I see its faces in the portraits displayed at this exhibition. I believe that these children, who are forced to grow up quickly, will rebuild Ukraine. Still, the responsibility of the adult generation is to avoid multiplying evil.”
THE PRIZE OF PRIZES, DEN’S GOLDEN AWARD, WENT TO PHOTOGRAPHER OLEKSANDR KLYMENKO FOR WORK AN ALLY / Photo by Mykola TYMCHENKO, The Day
The award surprised Klymenko greatly. “I took An Ally in Kurakhove, a town near the front line, in the summer of 2014,” the photographer said telling the story of his work. “Refugees from frontline town of Mariinka arrived in Kurakhove and got housed in a school. Mattresses were laid down in the school’s assembly hall, and a little boy (pictured on the winning photo), some women, and a man lived there. I made a photo story about them. Women wept and complained, but this child was very spontaneous. The man in the photo is called Serhii. I do not know his surname, he just returned from Liberia at the time. The man just sat beside the boy, embraced him, and the boy gave him an apple. Then they ate, later still the man left, and the boy ran after him, and this very moment is shown in the photo. Perhaps, the man personified the defender for the boy. Broken asphalt in the picture looks like life lines on people’s palms.”
“EVERYTHING WILL BE UKRAINE!”
Den’s Photo Contest affects the lives of photographers and subjects of their photos. The work Sashko, created by Kryvy Rih-based artist Olena Shunkina, won the prize of the agricultural company Olhopil. The picture shows a little boy, refugee from the city of Dymytriv, Donetsk oblast. His father Oleksii volunteered for Dnipro-1 Battalion and fought in the Donbas. On his return, he bought an old house which the family is repairing on its own. Olhopil’s representatives decided to help the family to rebuild its home.
Photo by Ruslan KANIUKA, The Day
Meanwhile, manager Oleksa NOSANENKO looked at a photo and recognized the child he and his brothers-in-arms evacuated from the village of Pisky, Donetsk region a few months ago. Nosanenko is originally from Crimea, celebrated this New Year at a combat post in the Donetsk Airport. He has been an amateur photographer for 20 years and followed Den’s Photo Exhibit for a long time, but has not dared to send his works yet. At the exhibition’s opening, Nosanenko presented prize of the Zarina jewelry house to Chernivtsi photographer Oleksandra Moisova for work The Snow Queen. “Choosing the winning work was very hard. I like The Snow Queen because the artist’s sense of beauty is evident in it. To be honest, I like absolutely all the photos of children presented here. They are great and beautiful. Children are always open and sincere, and their photos are always sincere,” Nosanenko shared his thoughts with us. “In general, the exhibition has a lot of pictures which I feel to be congenial in terms of my social position and experience. It was a very difficult year for me, I began it in the Donetsk Airport. Then there was an illness, then I organized the blockade of Crimea, even though I am from Simferopol myself. I work for a jewelry house now. I saw many people this year, including both soldiers of the anti-terrorist operation and our so-called ‘elite.’ It was an extremely difficult year for the nation, but my forecast is that everything will be Ukraine [a pun on the saying ‘Everything will be the Donbas!’, which expressed the Yanukovych regime’s confidence. – Ed.].”
“I WAS MOVED BY THE VETERANS’ PHOTOS – THE COURAGE AND WILL TO LIVE OF THESE GUYS AMAZE ME”
Oleh BATRAK, author of the photo A Feeling, winner of the Australian Embassy prize:
“As always, the exhibition is very powerful. It shows various aspects of our life, putting the emphasis on events in the eastern Ukraine. The situation in Donbas is expressed through emotions and experiences of people who are there to protect us. Nowadays, Ukrainians are especially interested in such pictures. However, people are generally affected by very different photographs. Every area should have a certain degree of imaging through photo, because photos are needed everywhere.
Photo by Borys KORPUSENKO
“From what I saw at the Den’s exhibition, I was moved the most by the photos of the veterans who returned from Donbas. They are young guys, but they are already combatants, veterans. Some remain abandoned to their fate, but some of them help their comrades-in-arms. The courage and will to live of these guys amaze me. Regarding the photographic forecast, I see that the country has finally moved off the ground, and things will improve over time.”
“KORBAN SURROUNDED BY ATHLETES IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXHIBITION”
Serhii KHARCHENKO, winner of Den’s Golden Award in 2014, as well as of the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv Prize and the Natura House Prize for the Lady with a Dog in 2015:
“The exhibition is good. There are many powerful images, but as for me, a little too much about war. For Ukraine, apart from the fighting in the east, has many other things that play a role in our life. Perhaps I am of that opinion because I had visited this war quite often and experienced it a little bit too much myself.
My own photo selection process for this year’s contest was quick and messy. The Lady with a Dog, which shows a little girl driving a huge dog on a leash, was just a coincidence. The characters appeared from nowhere and I couldn’t help taking the picture. As for the photographic forecast, there is one picture at this exhibition that looks magnificent – the Everything is OK with the Sense of Humor by Natalia Kravchuk, which depicts Hennadii Korban. It is simply amazing! The politician surrounded by athletes is the highlight of this exhibition.
“People are curious to see the war on the pictures – and thus feel what is happening in the field of fighting. But I’m not sure whether this topic can hold the people’s interest for a long time. The war is very exhausting mentally. That’s why the people are more interested in social photographs – and there are many relevant topics. For example, the resettlers – people who flee from war. The subject is connected to the war, but the emphasis is slightly different.”
“DEN’S EXHIBITION IS A HUGE COLLECTION OF HUMAN FEELINGS AND EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR”
Juha VIRTANEN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Ukraine:
“Holding such an exhibition yearly is a wonderful tradition. Seeing the numbers of people who attended it, one can say about the significant popularity of the event. The exhibition is memorable for impressive and sincere documentary photos. They show ordinary people who find themselves in an unusual situation. Most of all I was looking through the photos from the conflict in Donbas. I realized how sad the situation is – Ukraine faces many problems that seem to drag the country into a black hole.
“However, despite all the difficulties, which are reflected in these artworks, I saw a lot of optimism. The characters of those photos live in the present time. I also liked the photographs by young children. Their pictures are very sensual, because children are always sincere. Den’s exhibition is a huge collection of human feelings and events of the past year.”
“I WISH DEN TO STAY ON THE FOREFRONT OF OUR TIME’S INFORMATION AVANT-GARDE AND UPHOLD THE PUBLISHING BRAND”
Oleksandr YURKOV, CEO of Aquaservice:
“I always have positive impression from photo exhibitions. Photography is a weapon similar to the Ukrainian song, word or verse. We need those weapons. They change the attitude and perspective of people regarding different situations, and events. It is good to have Den doing this. This year’s Ukraine at the exhibition is, certainly, saturated by war. Each photograph has its echo and at the same time – the hope that things will get better and Ukraine will win. The second important topic is parents and children. Seeing children with their parents who are still fighting, or who came from the front, or who became disabled, or even those who did not come back, one cannot ignore those stories. This year’s politics issue is lost: it is still represented, but the people’s interest lies within other things – they watch the future, which is being unfolded at the frontline. Ukrainian politics have become boring, because it is routine, which had not changed. Will Ukraine burn for the next year? I hope not; let us all come out of this fire. And there are many photographs which demonstrate optimism. Especially the ones with children. I wish Den to stay on the forefront of our time’s information avant-garde and uphold the publishing brand. After all, the series of your books, photo albums, and the newspaper – all of that is an intellectual weapon that is extremely needed by the society.”
“THIS EXHIBITION IS HONEST TO POLITICIANS”
Viktor SHYSHKIN, Judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (2006-15):
“In the photos I saw the true and real Ukraine. In contrast to the inspirational rhetoric that is heard on television or from our leaders, these photos reflect the inner essence of the country. I liked the pictures, in particular the Tenderness when a fighter is holding a puppy, and the Justice Shuts its Eyes. This exhibition is honest to politicians.”
“DEN’S EXHIBITION SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY EU CITIZENS AS WELL”
Chuah Teong BAN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Ukraine:
“I had not been to the zone of conflict, but through these photographs one can recreate the events in Donbas up to 50 percent; one can learn about people who are fighting for their country and about what they have to sacrifice.
“Today Ukraine faces the crisis and these pictures just show it. The events at Maidan, the situation in Donbas, military life on the frontline... But among the gloomy, sorrowful pictures there are many positive ones. They show the Ukrainian optimism, hope the younger and older people have for peace. I also felt that Ukraine is a peace-loving country.
“I would especially note the photos that depict Ukrainian nature. The works on the Ukrainian daily life are interesting too.
“I think that the Den’s exhibition should be reviewed by EU citizens as well – at least in part of those photographs, which depict the events in Donbas. This way Europeans would be able to learn more about what Ukrainians live through every day. This would not only be a great PR for this exhibition, but would also allow this kind of ‘soft power’ to capture the hearts of people in Europe.”
“IT IS THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN HISTORY”
Kostiantyn DOROSHENKO, contemporary art critic and curator:
“Looking at the history of Den’s exhibitions, we see a unique visual timeline of the modern Ukrainian history. It is important that these exhibitions do not have a set topic and really show us the aggregate face of the country we live in. I think that eventually historians will have the exhibition as a unique material both from social and psychological standpoints.
“This particular exhibition appeals to me in that it has little tragedy and tears – though Ukraine is experiencing a war. Furthermore, many artworks demonstrate a sense of dignity. It seems that we have started to recover from the horror of the situation and realize who we are and what we do. And also I am very pleased by the presence of ironic pictures. Laughter is typical to Ukrainian character – and in particular the laughter on oneself, even in bitter times. This is the key to our ‘health.’ In this context, I liked tremendously the work by Natalia Kravchuk For Those Who Are Reading the Face, which depicts three of our former presidents – Viktor Yushchenko, Leonid Kuchma, and Leonid Kravchuk. It’s very simple journalistic approach: to catch someone in a slightly caricatured perspective. But having all three of them who had built the current system coincide so comically and out of place is an interesting document of the era and of our mentality.
“The portrait of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, also by Natalia Kravchuk, should be noted likewise. It is hard not to make a person of the magnitude, intellect, and expressive face, like the Blessed Cardinal, look interesting at a photograph. But this work also shows the light sadness which is always present in life and in thoughts of Husar, and I like that very much.
“As for the photo forecast – I feel that people see the light in the future, and they want to enjoy life rather than cry and complain. People are ready to move on, and this is the most important thing.”
“IN CIVILIAN LIFE IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT THE PHOTOS ABOUT MILITARY”
Andrii SENCHENKO, MP of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Verkhovna Rada convocations:
“It is very difficult to look at the pictures about military when you live a civilian life. All of us are extremely saturated with this war, thus our anxiety became permanent. Personally, I noted the collective photo of three presidents The System’s Founding Fathers. You know, assuming the political crisis imminent in the country, now is a period when one can put avalanche warnings on the lawns of Pechersk. There is a lingering suspense that an avalanche is about to fall through. And there are two ways out – either early elections or street protests again; but in the latter case, the perspective is uncertain.”
