I traveled to Kyiv in April of 2023 to witness the city during the war in Ukraine. I wanted to understand, to get an intimate perception of how people grasp and endure the reality of the war.
I was shocked—the city was booming. All the theaters are open and completely packed; restaurants and bars are full; rock concerts are sold out. Life continues despite Kyiv being in the center of military conflict. On the surface it looks almost normal, but once you start talking to people you...
more »I traveled to Kyiv in April of 2023 to witness the city during the war in Ukraine. I wanted to understand, to get an intimate perception of how people grasp and endure the reality of the war.
I was shocked—the city was booming. All the theaters are open and completely packed; restaurants and bars are full; rock concerts are sold out. Life continues despite Kyiv being in the center of military conflict. On the surface it looks almost normal, but once you start talking to people you realize the burden of the war; everyone carries the heavy weight of the conflict. Every Ukrainian gets up in the morning thinking of friends, relatives, and people they know who have joined the battle.
I was astonished at the determination to win, the confidence and perseverance; they are ready to fight for their country until the bitter end. I am sure of their success; certainly, they will free the entire country,
I found it difficult showing the superficial appearance of the city and emotional struggles of the people. For that reason, I decided to use a pastiche of the imagery, making the invisible into the visible.
Most of this project is made up of composites. Composite photography is simply the blending of two or more images together. I combine my photographs of the thriving Kyiv with my images taken in the small town of Irpin where ravages of war were clearly visible. Irpin is a suburb of Kyiv.
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