Concept:
To portray Ukrainian artists during the full-scale invasion through personal stories and values. Each participant shares a story about a personal, seemingly insignificant object — a small item that holds great meaning and provides strength in difficult moments. These objects become symbols of resilience, hope, light, and inner protection.
Purpose:
To rethink one’s own values through a personal story. The project invites
participants and viewers to reflect on deep questions:
– Who am I?
– Where is my place?
– What meaning do I bring into the world?
It’s a journey inward — through darkness toward one’s inner light. To emerge
renewed: with a better understanding of oneself, with inner grounding, new
strength, and a clear sense of direction and purpose.
Visual Approach:
The photographs are combined with vytynanka — a traditional Ukrainian form of paper cutting art that preserves our national cultural codes.
Master artist Mariia Semenoh contributed her vytynanky, while graphic designer Oleksandra Donner merged them with the photography, creating a unique visual narrative.
Project Participants:
Olga Sumska, Yan Stepanenko, Alyona Tymoshenko, Ivan Uryvskyi, Kostiantyn Temliak, Mariia Pustovit, Olesya Shlyakhtych, Petro Bogomazov, Oleg Tomin, Evgeny Khmara, Andrii Oziumenko, Petro Oziumenko, Tetiana Goncharova, Olena Lotra, Eugene Lytvynenko, Mariia Nikitiuk, Natali Babenko, Dasha Legeida Sova, Liusia Ponamarenko, Maria Semenog, Nelli Isupova, Zakhar Levitsky, Ihor Protsenko, Mikel Niemchyk, Diana Tishchenko.
Implementation:
2023, Ukraine, Kyiv.
