“To remember and comprehend!”

The best photos of Den’s 2014 photo exhibit were displayed at the Oblast Museum of Arts during a fortnight, and thousands of Cherkasy dwellers were able to see them. During this time, the museum looked more like a beehive, says museum director Olha Hladun.

“It is a great honor for the Cherkasy Museum of Arts to present such an interesting photo exhibition. Each of the presented photographs is a work of modern art, an example of visual history. Not only do these photos help to comprehend the events we have lived through, but they also provide support and inspiration. Den’s 2014 photo exhibit can be considered one of the significant events in Cherkasy oblast,” Hladun says.

Valentyna Shepetska, head of the culture department at the Cherkasy City Council, shares her opinion: “The exhibition stirred interest among the entire city community, and everyone was extremely fond of it. It was extensively visited by our school students. The residents of Cherkasy appreciated your work very much. We hope that Den’s projects will be implemented in our city in the future as well,” Shepetska says.

Fellow journalists also talk about the response drawn by Den’s Days in Cherkasy. “All sorts of events often take place at our Museum of Arts, but at very few of them I have seen the number of people that came to Den’s photo exhibit,” shares Nazarii Vivcharyk, journalist at Procherk.info. “By the way, I underwent practical training at Den when I was a student. I still remember it, and when I happen to organize trainings these days, I quote editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna’s words: ‘Journalists have to be not some microphone stands, but they must have a stand of their own.’ In fact, this newspaper is like that: it has its own civic stand, it is always interesting to read. Therefore, it is no wonder that this newspaper presents such an exhibition, because a moral right is required for that. Den has never remained aside from any social problems. The newspaper is a mouthpiece for opinion leaders. As a result, you feel you cannot but read it. And of course, your photographs also tell a lot.”

The “Cherkasy section” of the exhibition’s guest book is strikingly positive. For example, Oleksandr Buivol wrote: “Many thanks to authors of the Maidan photos. These are more than mere photos. They are epic. They turn your soul inside out.” An unknown author left an equally emotional review: “The exhibition is rich and impressive. Great thanks to the organizers for the captured moments of life, events, stories that were imprinted in the photos.” Almost every page of the book contains slogans “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!” and others. “We sincerely thank for the wonderful opportunity to remember probably the hardest, but also the most important events of our country,” write students of Grade 11-A from Cherkasy School No. 5. And a six-grader from School No. 32 left his own poem about the exhibition and Ukraine, which starts with the following lines: “I like the exhibit, especially about the serving soldiers. The united country, my Ukraine...”

There were a lot of people during the last days of the exhibit’s display at the Museum of Arts, and it came as no wonder. On Saturday, the visitors could already purchase the newest issue of the glossy supplement to the newspaper Route No. 1, which Den’s creative team dedicated to Cherkasy oblast and Chyhyryn in particular. “It makes me wish to get on a bicycle and ride along this route immediately,” smiles retiree Mykola Lytvyn, commenting on the supplement Route No. 1. Chyhyryn. Graphic designer, organizer of the youth association of artists “Creative Circle” Tetiana Denysova is also impressed: “There is a description of interesting tours around Chyhyryn. When I was little, I liked going on hiking trips in that region, but I haven’t seen as many sites as are presented in the supplement. If I had this issue back then, I would have traveled along the indicated route.”

Traditionally, people’s choice photos have been selected (by the way, Cherkasy residents voted so actively that there were barely enough forms). The first place was won by Father’s Courage by Ivan Liubysh-Kirdei, the second one – by Human Warmth by Maksym Liukov, and the third – by Mykola Tymchenko’s The Date.

Den’s Days in Poltava will begin on February 6. Den 2014 photo exhibit opening with the participation of our editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna will take place at 12 p.m. at the Poltava Museum of Arts. Poltava, don’t miss it!