Den’s Photo Exhibition: the personal involvement effect

“THE EXHIBIT AS A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNICATION”

 Nadia TYSIACHNA, PR Director of ZIK TV Channel:

“Over recent years Den’s photo contest has become an expected event of the fall. It was caused not only by involvement of a higher number of photo journalists and influential informational and financial partners of the event, rather by the fact that the photos on display are the calendar days of the year that we have lived through and are living through. In other words, Den’s photo contest is a kind of a Ukrainian calendar, which until recently was an analog to ‘Ukrainian’ television with its strange life.

“Importantly, when we look through the photos, we go back to those positive or painful, but sincere emotions that we experienced. Besides, we look at ourselves from aside, which is very useful. This offers us an opportunity to correct our self-esteem and after all the general portrait of a Ukraine, which has considerably changed lately.

“So, the photo contest is a continuation of Ukrainians’ getting familiar with their country. A constructive platform for our communication, if you like. After all, this is an interesting assertive view on life. Oleksandr Dovzhenko wrote that where one sees a puddle, another one sees reflection of stars. So, Den’s photo journalists for the most part find sense in different manifestations of life.

“One can say that ZIK TV channel is an information partner of the event because it professes the same values as its organizer, newspaper Den. And our choice of the photo by Yevhen HOMONIUK for his work Dad, come back alive was caused by the fact that the phrase ‘Come back alive’ has become a credo, a prayer for Ukrainians.”

“I WAS CHARGED WITH OPTIMISM AND FAITH”

 Ihor SMESHKO, head of the committee on reconnaissance with the president of Ukraine, former head of the SBU:

“Although there is war in our country and we have little time for this, I was waiting for this evening, to come to the photo contest of the newspaper Den I love and charge a bit in this really terrible time, when the best people give their lives for our unity, independence, territorial integrity. To get charged with optimism and faith that we will win. I have always been proud of the fact that I have had a possibility to look at Ukraine in three dimensions. There is a power of spirit in every photo. The selection of the photos by the newspaper is excellent. Traditionally, the photographers who love very much what they artistically reflect in their photos are the best in Ukraine. Today’s photo exhibit is a special one. It shows the rebelliousness, huge inner optimism, and strength of Ukrainian people. I am very thankful to the newspaper Den, I’m thankful to this photo exhibit. When I came, I was somewhat tired by the previous two weeks, but now I feel much better.

Photo by Artem SLIPACHUK, The Day

“Compared to last year’s photo exhibit, we can feel a huge difference. I have already said that the civil society was long ago born in Ukraine. The first and the second Maidans have shown that Ukraine has a developed civil society with deep European roots. Unfortunately, our political elite in many questions is not progressive enough compared with our civil society whose faces are so nicely shown by this photo exhibit. Hopefully, we have learned the lesson of the second Maidan. Hopefully, our future parliamentary elections will make a step ahead for our new political forces to be worth of their people.

“This photo exhibit is very important. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the best military leaders of the 19th century, said: ‘In the eternal struggle of spirit and sword, spirit will win.’ We can see that in the military actions in the east of Ukraine sometimes the other side has an advantage in terms of military equipment, but namely by our unsubdued spirit we proved that the sword will be defeated by the power of spirit.”

“HEROISM, BETRAYAL, LOSS, JOY”

 Serhii MAZUR, director of wine company “Vitis Group”:

“The photo exhibit of the newspaper Den is always avant-garde. Photographers always notice the details and features that underline the individuality of our nation, how it differs from others. Now the number of these moments has so much increased that it is very hard to capture all of them. Nonetheless, Den’s photo exhibit gives interesting and instructive lessons for everyone, which you not always notice in routine. During this year we have learned what is heroism, betrayal, loss, joy from return of relatives. Suddenly we all, not even seeking this or hoping to achieve this, have become more adult and wiser. The ‘explosion’ of maturity has taken place. For some people this year was like ten ones. I think that Ukrainian people have finally understood the meaning of the word ‘fatherland.’ Whereas when we raised a toast for fatherland, everyone perceived this word literally, now we understand much deeper what stands behind it. That this is not just a place where you live. This is part of yourself. And it won’t stand or develop without you. It will be interesting to look at these pictures in 10 years. For they show the transition of a Ukrainian nation to a new stage of its development. The photo exhibit of the newspaper Den is a manuscript of present day.”

“TODAY’S UKRAINIAN IS ABOVE ALL A PATRIOT. THIS IS HOW I SEE HIM FROM DEN’S PHOTO EXHIBIT”

 Dmytro LARIN, winner of special prize from KNAUF MARKETING for the photo from the series “Behind the Scenes” (Kyiv):

“Today a Ukrainian is first of all a person who cares about the country he lives in. This person is doing everything to have a normal government and quality changes in life. This is a man of action that can go into the street to protect his rights and develop his country. This is how I see Ukrainians from Den’s exhibit.

“Maybe it’s not a trend today, but I liked the works by Natalia Sharomova. I photographed Maidan a lot, and it is psychologically difficult for me to recreate those events – that was a terrible time. At the photo exhibit there are good works from Maidan, ATO area, but personally for me that was too much, because I’m trying to abstract my mind from that experience. It is hard to let these killings and death through.

“My works from the series ‘Behind the Scenes’ are banal. I went to shoot football match and photographed the VIP suites, where among other people there was Leonid Kuchma. The content is topical. On the whole, after Maidan in VIP suite of Olimpiisky Stadium the number of people has decreased, but some of them appear there on a regular basis. Former speaker Rybak goes there without any problem.

“Probably, Den’s photo exhibit has the longest history among analogical projects in Ukraine. This event is needed not only for those who highlight the events he experience, but also because it is an impetus for photographers to work.”

“THIS IS NOT ONLY HISTORY, BUT ALSO A WARNING”

 Eduard MYTNYTSKY, art director of Kyiv Theater of Drama and Comedy on the Left Bank of the Dnipro:

“I try not to miss Den’s photo exhibits, and this time I have come to the vernissage with my wife. When we were looking at the photos, which are already history, in particular, series ‘Maidan,’ my wife started to cry. Because a terrible prize was paid for the victory of the Revolution of Dignity: the lives of Heavenly Sotnia, and now not only ATO warriors, but also peaceful citizens are being killed in the east of our country every day. It would be good if Russians saw these pictures. Maybe they will understand something. I mean ordinary Russians, not Putin and Co., who organized terror in the east of Ukraine. The exhibit is impressive, it does not leave anyone indifferent, and it is good that in spite of the complicated time, you still hold your actions. These pictures are our history, the destiny of people and our country, and it will always stay in our memory, besides it is a warning how cautious we should be with so-called friends and neighbors. Personally I was impressed by the photo Ruin by Artem Slipachuk, when a woman with her hands behind her back is passing by a ruined house: this is so expressive, there is so much grief and hopelessness in her posture that your heart shrinks. The author of the photo manages to capture the moment, this is a great art.”