Recent Ukrainian history in photographs

It was a full house. Lesia Ukrainka State University of Volyn has launched an exhibit of photographs from The Day’s International Photography Competition, which our newspaper has been holding for seven years. The first exhibit of photos from last year’s contest was held last September on the newspaper’s anniversary in what has become a tradition. Some 180 photos, a record number since the contest was launched seven years ago, were displayed in two large showrooms of Ukrainian House. In a matter of days an estimated 20,000 Kyivans and guests of the capital saw the exhibit, after which it began its traditional journey across Ukraine. The Day’s exhibit generates tremendous interest in every destination. It arrived in Lutsk from Ostrih Academy, where it created a stir. It was awaited with great excitement at Volyn University. In 2002 this university hosted a launch of Ukraina Incognita, the first book in The Day’s Library Series. This time the opening of the photo exhibit was followed by the launch of one of our books, the subject of an upcoming report. The photos drew a crowd long before the exhibit’s official launch. Olena Malaniy, assistant professor at Department of Ukrainian Literature, shared her impressions: “How delightful! The works on display can be divided into two thematic groups: politics and daily life. My favorite photos are ‘Non-statutory relations’ by Borys Korpusenko, ‘Artistry’ by Oksana Nedilnychenko, ‘Inauguration’ by Mykhailo Markiv, and ‘Joyful beginnings’ by Oleksandr Kosariev. It seems the photographers captured scenes that characterize Ukrainians in moments of their greatest positive or negative exertions, such as our natural cunning and craftiness, piety, generosity, and lyricism. It’s a pity that our daily routine prevents us from observing the surrounding world with its variety of colors and hues. Unfortunately, such exhibits are rare here.”

The visitors to the exhibit slowly started picking their favorites. Among the titles mentioned most often were Leonid Bakka’s “Warm welcome” and “Exchange,” Borys Korpusenko’s “Non-statutory relations,” Oksana Nedilnychenko’s “Artistry,” Mykola Lazarenko’s “If only you had studied properly,” etc. Some of these works won awards and prizes in The Day’s Photo Contest in 2005. “This exhibit gives you a graphic and multifaceted idea of Ukrainians and Ukraine,” many viewers said, while they closely examined the photographs, apparently looking for Volhynian landscapes. Perhaps some Lutsk natives will be among this year’s contest winners whose photos zero in on their freedom-loving countrymen and their native land. Iryna Konstankevych, deputy head of the Department of Ukrainian Language, studied Anatoliy Stepanov’s photo “On Easter Day,” which has won the Editor’s Prize. “I see a Volhynian motif in this work,” says Iryna Kostankevych. “The photo ‘Familiar headscarf’ by Liudmyla Safarova is also in sync with my mood. Like many of the other photographs, it is full of astonishing energy. This is rather unusual, because this kind of energy usually emanates only from paintings. In fact, the exhibit surpassed our expectations. We hoped that it would be interesting, but we never expected it to become a full- fledged cultural event.”

Rector Ihor Kotsan along with numerous teachers, students, schoolchildren, librarians, journalists, and local officials attended the opening. “As for the photo exhibit, history has no wastebasket. However, a single moment is fleeting. As soon as you look away, the moment sinks into oblivion. This exhibit is a view that preserves history for us. This view is often unexpected, because it makes familiar faces and events closer to us,” said Volodymyr Karpuk, deputy head of the Volyn Oblast State Administration, in his speech during the official part of the exhibit. In her opening remarks chief editor of The Day, Larysa Ivshyna said, “ The Day has already beaten a path to the people with the help of the written word, but we do not rule out an alternative method — imagery. In the first years of this contest we displayed only works by our photo correspondents, which comprised a full-fledged exhibit at a high level. Then it occurred to me that in order to encourage competition, we had to make this an international competition open to professionals and amateurs alike. If such amateurs go through the selection stage, it may be considered that they have obtained a certificate of quality. I am certain that it is worth the effort to give gifted people an opportunity to show themselves, because sometimes they tend to be shy. We have a solid rule: let the best man win, and not necessarily one of ours.”