2022 - ongoing
When you face death in your family, albums full of ancient photographs can tell us a story. Unfortunately, so many documents and pictures are lost, or old-time portraits can even never exist. Today, in the era of digital technologies we have a chance to start creating our genealogy, explore our identity, and history, and as a result, save it digitally for the next generations.
In my photographs, I talk to the viewers via colours and dig into their memories and experience through colourful art abstractions. The project Primogenitors is my research of a family portrait, where I explore my roots, family members’ stories, and their relations. In this project, I explore the Ukrainian nation where I belong and my identity as well.
I started my project after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022; however, my reflections about my family and its history started just three months before the invasion – after my grandfathers’ death. I haven’t seen him for a long time because of the uncertain family relationship and then because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time my grandfather was the last alive grandparent in my family. I dreamed to meet him in person after the pandemic ends. I felt that I need to collect some stories about his life as a child during World War II and to know better how he and my ancestors survived. But it never happened. I was crushed by the news of his death. After a while, I felt calm because he shouldn't see a new war again.
Unique piece size 210 x 297 mm, limited edition prints size: various.
Medium: Analog photography (archives), photo paper, paint, collage.
Number of photographs in collection: 11
Awards: Neutral Density Photography Awards 2022 - Honorable mention, Fine Art: Abstract. Budapest International Foto Awards 2022 - Honorable mention, Fine Art: Collage. 19th Julia Margaret Cameron Award 2022 - Honorable mention, Digital Manipulation & Collage. Tokyo International Foto Awards 2022 - Official selection, Fine Art: Collage. London International Creative Competition 2022 - Finalist, Create (Art). Fine Art Photography Awards 2023 - Nominee in Fine Art. FRESH EYES 2023, Portrait.
![My father, early childhood, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/2a0a2a86-db97-4f95-be79-7d6d70fdb5b2_rw_1200.jpg?h=788a7b92ad230cbf385bf461ecefb728)
My father, early childhood, 2022
![My mother, early childhood, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/c334abb5-002a-4841-b7cc-18a82f0ee650_rw_1200.jpg?h=b525cb6f57f43f6ab606d37550670307)
My mother, early childhood, 2022
![My great-grandmother, grandmother and my mother in her early childhood, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/0a6dec67-b0ae-4c75-8780-941d97579f6e_rw_1200.jpg?h=aeba65877eca3eba701ddafc5dd8e934)
My great-grandmother, grandmother and my mother in her early childhood, 2022
![My mother in her 20s, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/c22a9e83-b5c0-44fe-a155-bd29b3a961f7_rw_1200.jpg?h=3c189e785041799b67b5edc86e176a86)
My mother in her 20s, 2022
![Great grandmother Kateryna in her garden, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/fef02334-b91a-4b7d-a80e-bb273027aef4_rw_1200.jpg?h=c64d72d2883324eae4c88061e5e4452c)
Great grandmother Kateryna in her garden, 2022
![Great grandmother Mariia with my uncle, 2022](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/37ea506b-6e09-4aea-b506-5d65760e1458_rw_1200.jpg?h=cffafeb71633889c6d56adf8464600e8)
Great grandmother Mariia with my uncle, 2022
![My grandmother Motrona with grandfather Volodymyr and my mother Olena in her early childhood, 2023](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/cb7b1ea8-8dd7-4676-81a6-4f31cbfcfb7f_rw_1200.jpg?h=08609841f2caccecb724d88c6dacdf5f)
My grandmother Motrona with grandfather Volodymyr and my mother Olena in her early childhood, 2023
![Family wedding entertainment in the village, 2023](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/6d56d2a2-2ac5-4f72-b256-a379797a7d75_rw_1200.jpg?h=e4714779d873a821b1a2b35f402d6116)
Family wedding entertainment in the village, 2023
![My grandmother Liliya with grandfather Oleksii, 2023](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/b0ac3a2c-f592-4539-96ca-7fcbbfb0a751_rw_1200.jpg?h=d98498eb04e331d54474669896749235)
My grandmother Liliya with grandfather Oleksii, 2023
![Grandpa Volodymyr, 2024](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/c869ffa6-67f7-43d5-98f9-2db5297f3972_rw_1200.jpg?h=93908c9443a604fb1d36530ac790abf3)
Grandpa Volodymyr, 2024
![Grandma Lillia in the middle, 2024](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/118b9220-51be-4688-9380-110c5e889415/53837f65-b8b7-4bab-bf5a-56052508beae_rw_1200.jpg?h=88d8a17e2e9462dd43de1b504f7413bb)