Gloomy History: Ukrainian Artists and Photographers Tell Stories

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Gloomy History revealed in Wasteland – Abandon Home (series) 2012 by Oleksandr Babak and Anatol Stepaneko. Image: Saatchi Gallery

ARTS & REVIEW

Ukrainian artists and photographers tell the devastating stories of life and the gloomy history of Russia’s invasion, including the annexation of Crimea.

BY KAZAD

Image-Coal miner- Victor Marushchenko, Donbass – Dream Land (series) 2003, is the photograph of a Ukrainian coal miner digging himself out of the mount of coal — Victor Marushchenko, Donbas – Dream Land (series) 2003, C-Type print 76 x 102cms © Victor Marushchenko. Image courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London

LONDON, UK – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been devastating. In the space of two weeks, almost two million people have been displaced, and entire cities destroyed. Using cruise missiles, area bombardment, and other dangerous weapons, Russian armies have destroyed many of the beautiful cities that were once home to innocent Ukrainians who, two weeks ago, were enjoying their lives. Many innocent people have also lost their lives.

Russia Invades Ukraine, Raining Rockets on Cities

Despite international efforts to get Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and the killing of innocent Ukrainians, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, continues to egg them on. Consequently, the Russian army continues to rain rockets on cities and villages such as Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, and Kiyanka. There are even reports that cluster booms may have been used during these attacks.

Many innocent people, including those fleeing the war zone, have lost their lives in the endless bombardment of missile rocket attacks. Additionally, many of the beautiful Ukrainian cities are in ruins. In a way, the destruction of Ukrainian cities mirrors what Putin did in Syria. Working with Bashar al Assad, they destroyed everything Syrians held dearly. They destroyed homes, culture, and history. The iniquitous duo also killed many people, including children, using chemical weapons.

Ukraine has been at the center of global news even before this recent invasion by the Russian army. The recent annexation of Crimea by Russia and the election of a new president are significant events in the history of the second-largest country in Europe. In many conversations, it is impossible to overlook the rampant civil unrest and the struggle for Ukraine to remain autonomous from Russia’s suffocating influence. All of these issues are at the center of a new exhibition in London.

In Our Paradise, an exhibition of photographs that opened last week at the Saatchi Gallery, London illuminates the struggle of the Ukrainians through the years. Seen through the eyes of contemporary Ukrainian artists and photographers, the show opens Ukraine to the world.

Ukraine’s Gloomy History

In Our Paradise… was originally curated by Galina Skliarenko for the National Academy of Arts in Kyiv. It features photographs by Oleksandr Babak and Anatol Stepanenko, Victor Marushchenko, Tiberiy Silvashi, and Anna Voitenko. The artists use their images to highlight the challenges encountered by Ukraine over the last few decades, including the most recent unrest.

This exhibition is the first in the series of exhibitions resulting from a partnership between The Firtash Foundation and Saatchi Gallery. The partnership follows the three-year patronage of Saatchi Gallery.

In 2014, it was agreed that Saatchi Gallery would provide a rare opportunity for talented and emerging Ukrainian artists to exhibit their work at Saatchi Gallery, one of the world’s most renowned contemporary art galleries. The idea was to provide global exposure for Ukrainian artists who may otherwise not have that opportunity. But more importantly, the partnership was also a chance for the presentation of Ukraine’s unique culture and heritage to an international audience in London.

In Our Paradise… celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the renowned Ukrainian Poet, Taras Shevchenko. Shevchenko’s literary heritage laid the foundation for modern Ukrainian literature and language. However, Shevchenko was not just a poet: He was also a writer, folklorist, ethnographer, and artist. His masterpiece–paintings and illustrations – have been celebrated across the globe.

In our paradise… follows the success of Contemporary Ukrainian Artists, the most comprehensive exhibition ever devoted to Ukrainian contemporary art in the UK. It was at Saatchi Gallery in October 2013 as part of the Days of Ukraine in the UK festival.

Ukraine Art and Culture

The new focus on the art and culture of Ukraine through the partnership between the Saatchi Gallery and the Firtash Foundation rekindles interests in Ukraine’s most vibrant art scenes. Additionally, the partnership brings attention to the contributions of contemporary Ukrainian artists in Paradise and those in future exhibitions. There is an emphasis on the contribution of Ukrainian artists to the development of Ukrainian art and culture over the last twenty or so years.

Lada Firtash, Director of the Firtash Foundation, is excited about the partnership with Saatchi Gallery. She celebrates Saatchi Gallery’s great enthusiasm and support to help educate “the international community about the unique cultural and artistic history of Ukraine.” On In Our Paradise…. she notes that “The exhibition showcases various themes and techniques developed by artists from Kyiv and beyond. The works address real-life issues which I think the British public will relate to.”

In Our Paradise… presents new ways of looking at Ukraine in London beyond the unrest and war. While many people in the UK are aware of the immense social and political change in Ukraine, it is clear that very few are aware of the truly vibrant contemporary art scene and unique cultural history of the country. Those cultural histories are obvious in many of the photographs, exposing many hidden facts about life in Ukraine.

Gloomy History in Paradise

There is dystopia In Our Paradise…. Several works in this exhibition reveal people engrossed in ways of life hidden from outsiders. In one photo by Anna Voitenko Grushevskoho (series) 2004, two shirtless men entertain themselves and onlookers by drumming on a discarded oil gallon. Watching them is an audience wearing heavy winter coats, scarves, and gloves. In this cold and gloomy weather, the two men brace the cold, perhaps to show off their machismo. But more importantly, they exhibit the resilience that is emblematic of Ukrainians fighting against and subduing the mighty Russian army.

In Victor Marushchenko’s Donbass–Dream Land (series) 2003, a coal miner, knee-deep in coal, digs through a mountain of coal. Covered in coal, the man shovels the coal with devotion. Clearly, this is not a job for the faint-hearted. The picture shows one of the ways young Ukrainians make a living in Ukraine.

While some of the works show events of everyday life, others borrow from Ukraine’s gloomy history to remind viewers of the struggles and wars Ukrainians have experienced throughout the decade. Some of the photographs are very touching as they capture human emotions in a way that boggles the mind. Oleksandr Babak and Anatol Stepaneko’s Wasteland–Abandon Home (series) 2012, belong in this category.

In this picture are different sizes of overworn shoes on an age-beaten bench. The bench rests against a dilapidated wall. Together, the shoes, wall, and bench tell a lot of stories. They tell stories of abject poverty, war, and displacement in Ukrainian cities. One cannot help but contemplate what happened to the people, especially the children, who lived in this house. Perhaps, the answer is in another of the series of photographs. One shows a house that has been bombed. The roof has caved in and the walls are falling apart.

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Ruins

Image- Junk yard- Victor Marushchenko, Chernobyl Zone – Machines Cemetery 2006, shows photos of a junk yard filled with broken buses, cars and trucks-contemporary Ukrainian artists and photographers — Victor Marushchenko, Chernobyl Zone – Machines Cemetery 2006, C-Type print 76 x 102cms © Victor Marushchenko. Image courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery, London

After a fierce battle with Ukrainian soldiers, Russian soldiers took over the Chernobyl nuclear plant, where radioactivity is still leaking. The plant was decommissioned soon after the April 26, 1987, nuclear accident, when the No. 4 reactors exploded, resulting in many deaths. Thirty-six years after it happened, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster continues to be the worst in history because of its cost and number of casualties.

Victor Marushchenko’s Chernobyl Zone – Machines Cemetery 2006 accentuates this feeling of dreadfulness that permeates this exhibition. The photograph shows buses, trucks, and vans that have been abandoned for years. They are dilapidated and do not have windshields or mirrors. Additionally, some are gradually been overtaken by weeds and trees. An air of eeriness permeates the image. Adding to the mystery is a lone soldier guiding the viewer through the ruins.

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That the Saatchi Gallery has provided the opportunity for understanding the history of Ukrainian culture is not surprising. The gallery prides itself on providing a platform for international contemporary art. Saatchi Gallery’s partnership with Firtash Foundation has helped exposed the artists in In Our Paradis as well as bring attention to aspects of Ukrainian history that many were unaware of until now. Eventually, the partnership will grow to include more artists and cultural professionals. Although these are emerging photographers, their images are outstanding by all standards. Their inclusion in this show will evidently boost the career of these photographers.