The dialog between the organizers and those invited began, as they say, from the threshold of the exhibition hall, where, among others, was Mykola Lazarenko’s work Private Territory , marked by the Special Prize of the Editor-in-Chief of The Day.
— Why Private Territory? Yes, this choice is subjective,— Larysa Ivshyna agreed. I thought that our previous exhibits were politicized, there were sharp and dramatic moments — let us recall the tragedy of Sknyliv. Yet there emerge more Ukrainians believing in their strength, and there are fewer hoping that someone somewhere upstairs will do anything to help them. Here, upon this bank of the river attended by so many people, where two under an umbrella pay no attention to anything, around this place is a special tonality, the private territory of the family, of love, of accord, of optimism.
And so the meeting continued without the kind of official pomp habitually accompanying such events. The guests to the exhibit tried to hear more than to say, for, as they assured, “Our city has seen nothing like this one.”
— Why so much attention being paid to photography?
— Not everyone is convinced by what is written, but photography cannot tell lies. It is necessary to add photos to texts to complete the harmony. When approaching to gifted works, man finds himself under the spell of some magic never seen before.
That this is just so, not otherwise, was stated by Valentyna Voloshyna, Chairperson of the Red Cross Society, Deputy of the City Council:
— See there on those photos, that woman carrying a heavy log on her shoulders. Symbolic... Perhaps she was driven on that arduous slippery path leading into the woods by her sole concern, keeping her home warm. I remembered my mother, she worked for a collective farm, digging up rows of beet and developing scores of ills. This exhibit attracts attention to an ordinary individual constantly forced to bring that “shining future” closer. Life emerges the way it actually is, and it also adds beliefs, hopes, optimism, urging one to think, analyze, and make conclusions.
— How did the selection of the best work take place?
— There were more than 800 works submitted to this year’s contest. Journalists of The Day sat and voluntarily sorted them out in order to form an exposition, arrange, bring, show, and tell why we are doing this on a humanitarian basis. In these items on display one can find countless bends, shifts, and concepts. We Ukrainians tend to understate ourselves. We habitually regard everything accomplished outside Ukraine as being superior to what we have at home. This attitude appears innate, although we are actually rich, cute, and strong. A Simple Ukrainian Wedding is the title of the work conferred the first prize. We see a sorrowful man sitting a table laden so heavily it threatens to collapse on its legs... We live with the upended pyramid effect. Not the best things are at the top. Here we are faced with big problems. Victories scored by apparent things are necessary. In politics, business, science, and the arts... No one has imposed on us this task of carrying this exposition from one city to the next. I am simply convinced that it is necessary. And when you are convinced that something is necessary, that you can really do it, then you must do it. We have received support from very important companies -[I mean] prizes for the winners of the photo contest. For a number of years they have believed in the high mark of our contest and have been giving us high- class prizes [awards] — pointed out The Day’s Editor-in-Chief.
Borys Nehoda, Merited Artist of Ukraine:
— Our age-old city has seen many genuine works of art, but this exhibit id the first of its kind in Kamianets-Podilsky. Only those invited came to the [art] gallery, and tomorrow, I am sure, as they say, the doors will be kept open. I see here renaissance manifest in The Day’s close attention being paid to a man in the street. Other editions are dominated by VIP photos. Those exploring this exposition will ask themselves what makes us servile to such an extent, why we fail to appreciate genuine talent but will wag our tail in the presence of ranking bureaucrats, even if we know that they are good for nothing save their current rank and position. Ours is an attempt to help fellow humans rid themselves of their slavish ways.
Larysa Ivshyna supported this representative of the creative elite of Kamianets-Podilsky:
— This society is growing. I spoke about Prof. Valery Stankov, Director of the Karadag Preserve. There are many such people in Ukraine. They form that kind of elite which, contrary to everything, contrary to political storms and hardships, keeps this society ticking. I wish you could produce a returning pulse. Our society should be realistic, demanding. With regard to our politicians, in particular. Our politicians are still to deserve your applause, but before that they have to work hard so you can applaud them. This condition of society will make them politicians interested in showing a quality growth. Bu we corrupt them by our preferences, our advance payments, by our applause...
This point of view expressed in the course of an informal conversation, of course, facilitates the quality growth of those that are listening. The interlocutors agreed that notions such as “province,” “periphery” had nothing to do with geography and history. It was the state of one’s soul, tuned up there by the items on display. Tuned up high.
Valery Klimenko, Head of the Organization and Control Department, Kamianets-Podilsky City Executive Committee:
— The subjects and techniques of the works displayed at the gallery I shall not dwell upon. Yet undeniable is the fact that this aspect of the exposition is all right. None of the works leaves you indifferent. I though over a lot of things by that photo showing workers sitting on that pipe: “Why We are not in the European Union.” Against that background another photo with Yevhen Marchuk resolutely voting in parliament. A decision must be made!
— The author of the photo “Why We are not in the European Union” is Mykhailo Markiv. He is among us. His work received the Grand Prix, — announced The Day’s Editor-in-Chief, to the accompaniment of applause with which the public met Mr. Mykhailo.
Artist-architect Ihor Yavorivsky gave The Day their due for this newspaper never failing to embrace acute issues in its publications and photo illustrations:
— I am very excited by the problem of building up Kyiv. The capital belongs not only to the community of Kyiv, but also to all of Ukraine. Our age-old Kamianets- Podilsky gives lessons with regard to care for monuments of architecture and respect for one’s history “written” in stone. Therefore, I think there is not incidental about Kamianets-Podilsky being the venue of the presentation of the two-volume Ukraine Incognita and Dvi Rusi, along with The Day’s photo contest.
Mykhailo Bublyk, an artist of Dnipropetrovsk, arrived in Kamianets-Podilsky “in order to paint Ukraine.” He had this to say:
— I have worked in this wonderful city for two weeks. I came here as soon as I’d heard about The Day’s photo display. I was among the first arrivals. What I saw surpassed all my expectations. None of the photos on display can be described as irrelevant or incidental, it would be hard for me to name any number of photos as the best ones. I believe that the organizers made the right decision conferring awards on the best works on display. The photo contest was sponsored by true Ukrainians, those we should recognize as our national elite.
It was getting dark outside the largest exhibition venue of Kamianets-Podilsky. The lively and uninhibited exchange was drawing to close. The organizers of the exhibit and samples of artistic photography were praised by Ihor Lysyi, the First Deputy Mayor of Kamianets-Podilsky:
— The Day’s photo exhibit held in our city marks a significant event in the life of this city. And the fact that the ceremony of presenting the two-volume edition of that celebrated newspaper’s library series was highlighted by a visit on the part of the illustrious Editor-in-Chief Larysa Ivshyna is convincing proof that we are witness to a markedly important event. In two days, Mrs. Ivshyna met with a number of individuals representing the general public of our city. Those concerned were left with unforgettable impressions from what they had seen at the exhibition hall. The impression was that of a fresh gust sweeping over Kamianets- Podilsky. We were charged with fresh hope: our state and our city in this state were now anticipating progress. We badly need such meetings and photo exhibits. If all our plans came true, I am sure that we would have taken large steps in improving the socioeconomic situation. As a representative of a local self-government authority, I have learned a great many lessons in the past two days...
