Masha Pryven

Oleksii’s photo “for the West”                              My photo of Oleksii during our encounter

Oleksii’s photo “for the West”                My photo of Oleksii during our encounter

Oleksii’s photo — backside                                    Oleksii’s second photo for him to keep

Oleksii’s photo — backside                          Oleksii’s second photo for him to keep

Collective photo album / situation / montage
2023 — ongoing

In 2023, I made multiple trips to Ukraine. I asked about 50 strangers in Ukraine to share their personal photos with me. I talked to people on the streets, in a rehabilitation hospital, at school, in a psychiatric ward, in bars and clubs, at a combat medic training center, at a university, and other public places.

I asked them to respond to my question, “Which message do you want to send to the West?” with a photo from their mobile phones taken in 2023. I always carried a mini printer with me to instantly print their pictures.

A total of 50 montages resulted from these encounters. They are made of participants’ own photos as well as those taken by me on-site. They address a utopian dialogue between Ukrainians and the collective West in the times of war. This is also an attempt to depict the people who have survived the Russian invasion for more than 2 years.

Oleksii, Kyiv, October 2023 (on the left)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David, Kyiv, October 2023

David, Kyiv, October 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a peaceful person, but if needed I know how to protect my children, grandchildren and my home land.

A.S. Drobin
July 2023

(translated from Russian)

Alexandr, Kyiv, July 2023

Translation of Alexander’s photo (backside) — I am a peaceful person, but if needed I know how to protect my children, grandchildren and my home land. A.S. Drobin, July 2023

 

 

 

 

 

My parents were fighting a lot [this winter]. I felt nobody was waiting for me at home. And it was like that: either there was no one at home, or a sad father.

[Monika, October, 2023]

(translated from Ukrainian)

Monika, Kyiv, October 2023

translated from Ukrainian — My parents were fighting a lot [this winter]. I felt nobody was waiting for me at home. And it was like that: either there was no one at home, or a sad father.

 

 

On January 22, 2022 I first visited Bucha, Kyiv Region and made some photos there (they’re great!). However, a month later the war started and my first thought was: How are things in Bucha? (…) With time, it was clear what happened: ruined houses, destruction, murder of people. So, I decided to never take photos of places again not to provoke trouble.

17/10/2023      Natalia

 

(translated from Ukrainian)

Natalia, Kyiv, November 2023

Translated from Ukrainian — On January 22, 2022 I first visited Bucha, Kyiv Region and made some photos there (they’re great!). However, a month later the war started and my first thought was: How are things in Bucha? (…) With time, it was clear what happened: ruined houses, destruction, murder of people. So, I decided to never take photos of places again not to provoke trouble. 17/10/2023 Natalia