“The country wants changes”

On Sunday the Den-2012 Photo Exhibit closed at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Ukraine. Other cities will soon have an opportunity to see part of the photos. Over eight days nearly 10,000 Kyivites and guests of the capital have come to see the works of the winners of the 14th photo competition organized by the periodical.

Volgar Zeinalov came to Kyiv from Baku. He learned about Den’s photo project from the press and came to visit the Museum of Contemporary Art right away: “I learned about Den’s photo exhibit absolutely by accident, but I am glad I have come. I like it very much. I am a TV journalist, therefore I have fresh eyes. On the whole, it was a quality and beautiful exhibit. And I have seen different kinds of Ukraine here, but mostly the one that is eager to break away from the past, wants changes, and seeks to come back to the European civilization.”

Traditionally, the visitors of the photo exhibit had an opportunity to choose the best work, in their opinion, out of 350 items of the exposition. According to the results of the popular vote, in which over 1,200 people have taken part, the photo by Olena Zen from Rivne oblast entitled Wings became the winner, having earned 114 votes. As a reminder, Olena’s work has also been awarded by the company Coca Cola Ukraine. The second place went to the photo by Tetiana Pavlyk from Ivano-Frankivsk called Sonechko, which earned 93 votes.

And the third place went to the work by Volodymyr Falin from Kyiv, Forever Elegant, dedicated to Bohdan Stupka.

The Day has interviewed the audience’s favorite Olena ZEN. Incidentally, it was the second time that Olena, who has been involved in photography for somewhat more than three years, took part in Den’s competition. She says a mere presence at the launch of Den’s photo exhibit gives you a lot: looking at your fellow photographers’ works helps you change your own photography vision in some ways and shape your style.

Olena, your work has been found the best by the visitors of the photo exhibit in Kyiv. What does this, so to say, audience’s favorite prize mean to you?

“This is proof of the fact that my work as a photographer means something. I make photos not only for myself, but for other people too. And it is very gratifying that people do recognize this.”

What was your motivation to take part in Den’s photo exhibit?

“This is quite a remarkable photo event in the country. Moreover, the best works according to the results of the competition are exhibited in the capital. So, many people can see your works, too. This is of great importance for me.”

In your previous commentary to The Day you said that the work of the Golden Day Award winner Yevhen Malolietka Help a Child is special for you, because you have worked on the topic of children’s cancer. Please tell about this in detail. In what areas do you work on the whole?

“I like both, genre photography and reporting. As for the other part of the question, the project ‘Give a Possibility to Live’ was implemented in Rivne. To help children who are patients of the oncology-hematology department of the Rivne oblast hospital for children, the journalists of the city staged a charity performance, and local photographer Oleksandr Kharvat [also a participant of Den’s photo exhibit. – Author] and I organized an exhibit of the photos of the children for whom we were trying to raise the money. When we were making photos of these children, it was hard to hold back emotions when we looked at them. At this age they should rejoice at life, don’t be thinking about bad things, play with their friends, be in the fresh air, and they are separated from all of this, they are not allowed to go outside. I am a medic by education and I understand how dangerous it is for them. And they are staying within four walls, worn out by injections and procedures. This topic is emotionally hard, but socially, it is very important. In the country this problem is huge indeed, because not all the parents have an opportunity to pay for the treatment of their children, because the treatment is really expensive. Therefore these projects are worth of being implemented.”

How did your work Wings emerge?

“We went to recreate to the village of Sosnove in Polissia. This place is also called Switzerland on Sluch, because it is located on the bank of the Sluch River. We came there in the evening. Our son immediately went to bathe in the river and the sun was highlighting these drops in a really beautiful way. I had a camera with me, so I started to make photos of him. This is my son.”