Photo exhibition showcasing Ukrainians’ wartime life opens in London

Rubryka tells the details.

What is the problem?

More people abroad are starting to ask, "Is the war in Ukraine still happening?" as if it's ancient history rather than a current reality disrupting Ukrainian lives every day. As news fatigue sets in, global attention to Ukraine is diminishing, causing the war to become mere background noise for many.

What is the solution?

A photo exhibition in London, Great Britain, presented by Ukrainian director and photographer Lyuba Bobrova, aims to remind foreigners about the war in Ukraine, its consequences, human tragedies, and the daily struggle of Ukrainians.

The artist's photographs highlight the lives and adaptation of Ukrainians to the difficult conditions caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exhibition is also aimed at supporting the Home Again project, which helps rebuild homes destroyed by the war.

How does it work?

"Since the beginning of the full-scale war, everything I write about, shoot, and photograph has been related to the war. And I do all my projects to tell and remind people about Ukraine and the Russian invasion. I want to tell about people, their stories, and I want to convey emotions and feelings through my photographs. Because foreigners, although they understand that there is a war and that it is terrible, cannot realize all the pain. With my works, I try, as much as possible, to bring them closer to this understanding. All this is for the sake of continuing to provide assistance to our country," the artist says.

^{Heroes of the "Adaptation" series Halyna and Anatolii in their new home. Photo from the exhibition: Yana Bobrova}

This debut photo exhibition tells the story of the resilience and determination of Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian photographer features two series in it—"Adaptation" and "Blackouts."

Lyuba Bobrova shares insights on how the "Adaptation" photo series was created:

"In June, I decided to visit families, participants of the Home Again project in Chernihiv region, to record their lives and how they adapted to new conditions. Rockets destroyed their homes at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but the project gave them the opportunity for a new start. Despite the fact that people adapt to new conditions, pain, fear, grief and sadness remain in the past. But the desire to continue living is stronger than anything else."

The exhibition also features stories of families participating in the Home Again project. Everyone has their own story of escape from the occupied territories, everyone conveys it in their own way – some in a few sentences, and some on several pages.

The project's author emphasizes that even though Ukrainians are finding the strength to carry on and rebuild, Ukraine still needs support. Adapting to the conditions of war shouldn't become a norm for people. These are the emotions the photographer aimed to capture in her works.

The second series of the exhibition is called "Blackouts". It documents the daily resilience of Ukrainians during blackouts caused by strikes on energy infrastructure. This series of twelve photographs was taken in Kyiv during a forced power outage. Each of the photos shows moments of everyday life that continues despite the challenges of war.

Lyuba Bobrova shared with Rubryka that before the exhibition opened, one of the photos fell and cracked. It was an image of a sign reading "Caution: mines and dangerous ordnance." Initially, both the artist and the organizers were upset, but they chose to incorporate this accident into the artistic concept. They covered the glass with tape, transforming it into a creative element that not only added symbolism but also drew more attention to the "explosive content" and the harsh realities facing Ukraine.

How to get to the exhibition?

• Where? The artist's exhibition opened on January 16 at the XYZ Gallery in central London, located at 5 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8PH, near Chancery Lane tube station.
• When? The exhibition runs daily from January 17 to 26, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Admission is free.

The representative of the XYZ Gallery, Damian Rain, notes:

"We are delighted to host the first exhibition of photographs by the talented Lyuba Bobrova. Her narratives, with technical skill and a big heart, show lives changed by war."

And the curator of the project Yuliia Polishchuk adds:

"Art should celebrate dreams, not reflect the struggle for survival in the darkest times. However, Lyuba has turned pain into a global call to action, reminding us of our common humanity and responsibility to ensure that no one is forced to adapt to the unacceptable."

Will this really work?

Both Ukrainians and foreigners gathered at the opening of the exhibition – more than 70 people in total.

"Overall, the reviews have been very positive, with many people engaging with the exhibition. Several attendees mentioned that more people should see it to gain this perspective on the war—about adaptation, maintaining hope and faith, and, most importantly, the thirst for life," Lyuba Bobrova comments.

The author stresses that her exhibition is not just an artistic expression but also a call to action. While admission is free, visitors can support the fundraising campaign for the Home Again project. This initiative aims to provide housing for 11 families who had to leave their temporarily occupied Ukrainian cities and towns due to ongoing hostilities.

For reference:

For six years, Rubryka's photo correspondent Mykola Tymchenko has been capturing images of cats on the streets of Ukrainian cities. On Cat Day, Rubryka shared a selection of his photos with readers.