The call to mutual help and compassion is without exaggeration the central motif of this year’s photo exhibit of Den/The Day (As a reminder, the exposition based on the results of the 14th photo competition of the newspaper was launched on October 12 at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Ukraine).
Every year the first task the editors set before themselves when organizing the photo competition is to open our country to the fullest extent for everyone who will see these works. That is the very reason why professionals and amateurs, as well as young beginner photographers (a special category “The World through the Eyes of Children” was created in 2009) are being involved in it: everyone can capture the unique moment, which will allow them to look at the society in a new way.
This year’s photo exhibit of Den displays 350 works selected by the jury of the competition, the newspaper’s staff, out of 2,500 photos. Overall, 390 authors have taken place in the competition.
However, every year from the variety of faces and life situations one can single out one or more trends that characterize our time. For example, one can hardly imagine this year’s exhibit without the photos from Euro-2012: a special section of the exposition is dedicated to the soccer championship. But the most interesting thing is that in spite of the usual realism of works, visitors consider them optimistic. This does not mean that problematic topics are hidden, they are present, but conveyed without despair or unneeded drama.
“In spite of the difficult time, this year’s exposition looks more optimistic and joyful,” pro-rector of the National University of Ostroh Academy who holds Ph.D. in philosophy, opinion journalist Petro Kraliuk. “Probably the reason is that Ukrainians start to recover bit by bit, for our problem is that our view of the surrounding world is too pessimistic, and this is abnormal.” Journalist Yehor Soboliev said he could see the readiness for action waking up in Ukrainians depicted in the photos.
Actually, one can see the call to a human deed in the photo, which has won this year’s “Golden Day.” This is a work of Kyiv’s photographer Yevhen Malolietka Help the Child dedicated to the problem of children’s oncology. “Every Ukrainian knows about this problem, but not everyone is able to tell about it in a way that touches the strongest heart and people become eager to help,” Larysa IVSHYNA said, when she was awarding Yevhen with the award made by the design studio Hararuk of precious metals and stones.
“Social photography is more than a picture, it has history, concrete actions, and purpose. The purpose of my photograph Help a Child I made at the National Institute of Cancer is to help raise money for medicine for children, entertain them, and distract their mind. We have a small organization ‘Club of Young Leaders,’ whose members together buy medicines, fruit, or other necessary things. Even paying some attention to children to distract them from the hospital routine – we need this too. Last year we made a project, in particular, a photo exhibit dedicated to the problem of children’s oncology owing to which we managed to raise about 50,000 hryvnias during the project, and 30,000 more after that. We bought necessary medications for that money and brought them to the Institute of Cancer,” Yevhen explained after the awarding ceremony. “Today photographers are unwilling to take up social topics. I think it is because of laziness. This is no commercial photography. Besides, it is always hard. It was hard for me to work on this project. It was hard even to enter the Institute of Cancer. When you get plunged in this problem, it becomes really hard to work. But if you don’t take it heart, simply doing your work, why do you need it at all? ‘Golden Day’ is my hope for further prospects, my inspiration to go on working, set more complicated tasks before me, and raise my personal standard.”
A peculiar feature of “Golden Day” (it will be reminded that the prize has been awarded since 2008 and is given to the photos that most acutely stress on the need of social responsibility) is that behind this award there should always be a good deed towards the heroes of the winning work. The newspaper’s staff will join in raising the money for children with cancer and calls upon all readers of our newspaper to do the same.
And the grand prix from the Prominvestbank went to The Day’s photo journalist Kostiantyn Hryshyn for his work United. “This work is a very precise reflection of the processes that are taking place in our society these days and their tragedy,” Iryna TSITSILINA, editor of the information projects of Prominvestbank, explained the choice of the winner.
It will be reminded that the photo exhibit of Den 2012 will be open at the Museum of Contemporary Art until October 21. Traditionally, other cities of the country will be the next to see it. So, hurry up!
COMMENTARIES
Bohdan HAWRYLYSHYN, professor, one of the founders of the World Economic Forum in Davos, member of the Club of Rome, the World Academy of Art and Science, participant of December First initiative group:
“It is a pleasure for me to communicate with such a wonderful newspaper as The Day and its staff. The exhibit is really wonderful, fantastic, and versatile. Many photos it showcases can be truly regarded works of art. Many of them attract one’s attention because they have captured a moment. I have gotten really strong impressions from this photo exhibit, because you get from it not only aesthetic delight, but emotional pleasure, too. It was gratifying for me to see here the photos of several persons who are deceased now, in particular Bohdan Stupka, a fantastic actor and well-educated person.”
Toichi SAKATA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine:
“It is the first time I came to The Day’s exhibit and I appreciate the contribution of your newspaper in its organization. This is a place where people can share their emotions and thoughts with the help of photos. The photo exhibit is important for the entire society, as it is a place to express freedom of speech. I was somewhat surprised to hear that some of the photos were made by children. Adults should see to preserve this feeling, thus making society more peaceful. It is quite hard to single out just one thing in this photo exhibit. However, I liked the photo by Ruslan Kaniuka A Morning in Town. It shows a symbolic stretching movement that speaks of freedom and the fact that one is living in a free world. As for me, this is one of the most important photos. I have also remembered another photo (again by Ruslan) He will Become a Football Player, in which a ball is painted on a pregnant woman’s belly during Euro 2012. When I saw it I had an impression that this woman is very happy, and the society she is living in is peaceful. She is getting ready for becoming a mom and this symbolizes a bright future for the society.”
Yukie MOKUO, UNISEF Representative in Ukraine:
“Several things at this photo exhibit have immediately drawn my attention. Those, in particular, are social problems depicted on the photos, including the ones made by children. They show disabled people who differ from others. The photo shows that we still need to do much to support the disabled or people who suffered from discrimination. This is the message I saw in these photos. On the other hand, The Day’s photo exhibit shows many happy faces, especially children’s. And the guaranty of this happiness is very simple: parental love and care.”
Vitalii HAIDUK, businessman, public figure:
“Unlike the real situation in the country, the exhibit is bright and fantastic. Of course, it has got some tragic photos, but such realities are present in every society. Emotions are the thing that impresses me the most. And here they are fantastic, there are many bright faces. The rest is quality and technique, which allows one to capture an emotion. I was really impressed by the photos The Wings and An Optimist.”
