As many as 1,112 ballots with the names of the best photographers were cast by the guests to The Day’s 2009 photo exhibit held at the Ukrainian Home, September 25 – October 2. After counting the votes the result turned out to be “motley,” considering that every visitor saw every picture in his/her own way, looking for and finding in it the kind of Ukraine he/she sought and understood. Time will show — precisely the next several weeks — which photo will be recognized as the best, as the photo exhibit will travel to Lutsk. As for the ballots cast in Kyiv, The Day is proud to see the names of its press photographers among the favorites, including Kostiantyn Hryshyn’s spectacular, innately Ukrainian lyrical Mavka Spivuchoho polia (Mermaid of the Song Field: 223 votes) and Ruslan Kaniuka’s political burlesque YO-MA-YO (186). The winner is Kyiv-based photographer Volodymyr Tarasiv and his sarcastic political Svii do svoho (Birds of a Feather: 374 votes). Among the junior competitors, 16-year-old Oleksandra Pinehina’s Sama nizhnist (Nothing but Tenderness), imbued with empathy with the surrounding world, and 15-year-old Kyivan Yevhen Kazykin’s touching black-and-white portrait Mii didus (My Granddad) were the leaders (114 and 69 votes respectively).
Nicola Franco BALLONI, director, Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine:
“I have made it a point in the past few years to visit Den’s photo exhibition, for one can see here the way Ukraine is gradually changing. This is not only a feast of photography and a chance to see the best professionals in this genre of art but also an illustrative event. What I liked the most is a photo showing a female war veteran who is gray-haired and has a lot of decorations, but she wears bright manicure and still remains attractive in old age. Clearly, she has seen many hardships but is still full of energy and remains a true lady is spite of her years. When you visit this exhibit, you learn more about your country in various fields of life. Some photos show this country’s political life in a humorous vein, and, as the saying goes, ‘one who can laugh will be able to overcome obstacles’.”
Yurii KHOMENKO, vice rector for education, Dnipropetrovsk National Mining University:
“The first thing that catches your eye at Den’s photo exhibit is that every shot has the first, second, third and, in some cases, fourth plane. The first one is the situation the artist chooses. The second is the circumstances and conditions in which the situation unfolds. The third is the vibes, perhaps the aura, which reflects the photo. And the fourth is the mood that each photo in particular and the exhibit in general create. I am glad that there are so many talents in Ukraine and, what is more, that they can reveal themselves thanks to Den, and the exhibit itself is reaching higher levels every year. It is multifarious in terms of aspects and hierarchies – from the governmental and parliamentary life to the life of ordinary people and, in particular, to the vision of our children. We are looking forward to seeing the exhibit in Dnipropetrovsk – it is sure to be quite an event in our city.”
Olesia ZHULYNSKA, public relations manager, Coca-Cola Ukraine:
“I saw a very multifaceted and multicolored Ukraine here. A moment, an instance, stops here, lives for a second, and never repeats itself. Television footage is just here and then gone, while a photo is an emotion that always stays on. For this reason, a photo contest is an unsurpassable thing. What touched us the most is a little nymph girl (“The Nymph of a Song Field” by Kostiantyn Hryshyn, Kyiv – Ed.). The impression is the child lives on the borderline of reality and something magical and unusual, i.e., what has always been inherent in Ukrainian culture.”
Volodymyr PANCHENKO, professor, National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy; literature researcher:
“Firstly, I noticed that this year’s exhibit displays a lot of works by masters hailing from outside the capital and other big cities – Obukhiv, Ichnia, Chechelnyk, and other locations. So we can see Ukraine on a larger scale through the eyes of local residents. I also caught myself looking for the countryside. And I can find it here. I’ve even hit upon the following idea: as the rural civilization is vanishing, like Atlantis, and there will be a different reality 20 years later, it would be good to put up a thematic exposition named ‘Ukrainian Atlantis.’ It is just the right time to focus on a civilization that once was, in fact, the cradle of Ukrainians and is now going extinct.
“Secondly, what I liked the most is the stall with photos in the nomination ‘The World through the Eyes of Children.’ I found the best harmony there, for the adult world is full of disharmony. And it is very good that in this disharmonic world Den managed to find a harmony which the child’s outlook always adds. And the human soul always seeks harmony.
“There are photos that depict nature – close-up and in detail. Take, for example, the photograph ‘Morning Exercises’ by Yevhen Kazykin: a little bird that has spread out its wings. Will an adult notice such a tiny detail? In contrast to the light that children’s photos exude, politicians look unnatural. Shall we perhaps impose a year-long moratorium on the faces of politicians?”
Zina KALAY-KLEITMAN, Ambassador of the State of Israel in Ukraine:
“The exhibit is wonderful. If you compare it with the last year’s one, you will see that emphasis was made today on Ukrainians’ everyday life and more down-to-earth and genre pictures.
“I like this indeed. I can remember well a picture in which mothers walk pushing baby carriages and the photo ‘Women,’ showing a modern-day girl on high heels is standing next to a nun.
“I like unexpected angles. This exhibit is in no way inferior to the one held last year – it only differs a bit from a customary one, but it is of a high level. We are looking at these pictures and see that people go on living their everyday lives in spite of everything; we can see something good in people but sometimes we cannot. Many photo artists managed to reflect Ukrainian reality very well.”
Yevhen MARCHUK, public figure, Ukraine:
“Fortunately, I have never trusted television as the only unbiased source of information, although I, naturally, follow all the events in Ukraine and abroad. But you cannot see on TV the Ukraine that is displayed today on these photographs. This year 1,637 works by 171 authors were exhibited for competition, out of which we selected 220 most topical ones.
“What is the current exhibit distinguished for? The photographs almost do not show the so-called modern political elite, which has sullied its reputation among the people. All these pictures are presented by various photographers, including children, and all of them, except for three persons, are not from the newspaper Den. In other words, the apolitical nature of Photo Exhibit 2009 only confirms widespread public mistrust towards politicians.
“On the other hand, there are many other fantastic works that provide a kind of philosophical key to the moment of life captured by the photographer. All you have to do is look attentively and read.
“This year I visited the Den photo exhibit in a small town of Chechelnyk, Vinnytsia oblast. I must point out that, although local people live very far from Kyiv, they are not provincials in terms of intellectual level. This was evidenced by their profound interest in the photo exhibit. So I think that what the newspaper Den is doing – taking its photo exhibit to all places in Ukraine –is a sort of television on wheels. But it is special in that it focuses on concrete things. So let me greet all the participants in this contest, including the Den staff, which minutely collects and selects works and organizes the exhibit. As for the contest winner, the photo ‘A Wedding Party in a Village,’ it really deserves the top award.”
Lilia PUSTOVIT, fashion designer:
“Firstly, I am very glad that there is so little politics at the exhibit. Secondly, I have noticed that photos show so much countryside – so beautiful and genuine. And I have been more and more certain lately that Ukraine has managed to preserve its identity thanks to its villages – the birthplace of spiritual strength and morality. Another, perhaps unchanging, topic for us is departure from Soviet-era ways and habits. You can also see this here. There are very many interesting and genuine pictures of people who have managed to overcome real-life obstacles. Besides, what we can see here is not only a social challenge but also just esthetically good photos. I think photo exhibits become increasingly subtle with each passing year. True pieces of art, rather than simply apt moments, begin to appear.”
Oxana PACHLIOWSKA, La Sapienza University, Rome; Taras Shevchenko Institute of Literature, Kyiv:
“A wonderful exhibit. Every photograph is the history of an individual, of a country, and of discoveries. This is a reaction to what is going on in this country. The photos show very well that we have a political clan that seems to be living on another planet and the people who live a life of their own. They are fighting, surviving, and defending what is the most precious to them. For example, I can remember a work titled ‘Birds of a Feather…’: a pig bursting to enter the governmental palace.
“I heard a foreign delegation making an interesting comment on these photos: they were comparing Ukrainian politicians with theirs – who has a better mafia and where there is more corruption. As for human life, the newspaper Den will write about it. I pray to God that you always have a breakthrough – in all forms of your journalistic work and life. This newspaper is really a breakthrough, a new world outlook. No banalities, always a discovery. You do not just read – you discover something new; you exchange opinions, not just mingle with somebody. I constantly feel the sensation of solidarity and comradery inside and around Den. I love you so much. Well done!”
