The project «Fragility» explores the multilayered nature of societal fragility in the context of Ukrainian identity and the historical changes occurring from 2014 to 2021. This period is marked not only by armed conflict but also by a complex of factors, including historical legacy, economic and political instability, as well as social vulnerability, all of which leave their mark on people’s lives.

Over seven years, I captured moments that reflect this fragility. The photographs form fragments of a holistic picture of a world where the unbearable fragility of existence is palpable. Through diptychs that utilize metaphorical language, I aimed to convey documentary reality, creating a dialogue between the personal and the public. In the diptychs, I use metaphorical language, but at the same time, they consist of documentary shots.

The project «Fragility» not only focuses on the state of society but also reveals my own vulnerability in the face of life. As B. Mikhailov says, every photographer engages in a dialogue with time, and this project has become a kind of reflection of the historical epic, akin to his works in the 80s and 90s, such as «Twilight» and «Viscosity.»

As I concluded my work on the project, I could not have anticipated that it would become a precursor to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This project has echoed the changes in the world caused not only by conflict but also by broader social and political circumstances.

Ukraine 2014-2021