“I am Kuindzhi”

2015 in Mariupol was celebrated as the year of Arkhip Kuindzhi – in honor of the 175th birth anniversary of the famous painter. For the anniversary, an original project entitled “I am Kuindzhi” was presented by the active youth of the city – namely by members of the NGO called “Diplomatic Corps” League of International Political Scientists, which incorporates political science students from Mariupol State University.

“My friends and I came up with the photo contest, in which the photographers presented analogies to famous Kuindzhi’s paintings,” says third-year student Anastasia Mahomedova, leader of the “Diplomatic Corps.” But the goal of the project is actually wider. “First, we wanted to attract young people to the arts,” continues Mahomedova. “And secondly, we wanted to reiterate that Mariupol is not only an industrial city and a hot spot on the frontline, but also a cultural city. We are very concerned about the image of the city in the context of Ukraine.”

“The youth wants to promote the works of our artist Arkhip Kuindzhi, as well as the art museum in the city named after him, which is unfortunately little known even in Mariupol,” adds Dmytro Chychera, frontline volunteer, head of the local photo club Vitamin, and the judge of the contest.

SERHII ZAITSEV, A WINTER SUNSET / Photo by Yevhen SOSNOVSKY

“When making a photo analogy, a person is trying to analyze the work of the master and do something similar, in a way becoming a bit Kuindzhi themselves,” says Mahomedova. “There were approximately 200 works – the competition featured students of the photo school, members of the Vitamin club (which, by the way, has been named among the five best photo clubs of Ukraine for the past three years), and various amateurs of photography from around the city,” says Chychera. Together with the members of the student NGO he selected 12 best works from 200 submissions. Chychera explains: “The task was to have a photo that would be a modern reading of a classic painting. For example, in the work of Yehven Sosnovsky, a member of the military stands against the background of the steppe. Now it’s a part of our life, given that Mariupol is a frontline city. Two of the works are still lifes, although Kuindzhi painted predominately landscapes. But the still life expresses the mood of the picture well.”

The best entries are now exhibited at Arkhip Kuindzhi Mariupol Art Museum. Later, all the photos will be sold at a charity auction, the proceeds from which will be directed to the development of the museum. The exhibition will run through December 27.