Andriy, 27, astronomy graduate, picture was taken after he spent 9 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine – © Wiktoria Wojciechowska

Andriy, 27, astronomy graduate, picture was taken after he spent 9 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine.

Wiktoria Wojciechowska

Sparks

[ EPF 2017 – HONORABLE MENTION ]

Sparks is a multi-dimensional portrait of a contemporary war in Europe, forgotten but still actual, the war in Ukraine. Ukrainians are fighting against the separatists, who are Ukrainians as well, driven by Russia’s influence and support. The core of the project is meeting victims of the war and dealing with aspects of the conflict like its influence, the impact on the environment and the lives of ordinary people, from late 2014 until 2016.

 

Vitaliy (Victor), 29, worker, picture was taken after he spent 12 months in the war zone, January 2016, Ukraine.
Vitaliy (Victor), 29, worker, picture was taken after he spent 12 months in the war zone, January 2016, Ukraine.
Roman, 18, student of marketing, picture was taken after he spent 6 months in the war zone, January 2015, Ukraine.
Roman, 18, student of marketing, picture was taken after he spent 6 months in the war zone, January 2015, Ukraine.
A car bombarded by an B-21 Grad - one of the most unpredictable weapons. Hirs?ke ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
A car bombarded by an B-21 Grad – one of the most unpredictable weapons. Hirs?ke ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
A bridge in Semenivka - one of the first front lines. Semenivka, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
A bridge in Semenivka – one of the first front lines. Semenivka, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
The Center of Culture of Semenivka after the shelling. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine,.
The Center of Culture of Semenivka after the shelling. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine,.
"The squad of nine killed and eight wounded.? Most of the voluntary soldiers during the first months of the war were not registered. Therefore it is hard to estimate the actual number of deaths and injuries. Collage on picture from the mobile phone's archive of one soldier. 2015, Ukraine.
“The squad of nine killed and eight wounded.? Most of the voluntary soldiers during the first months of the war were not registered. Therefore it is hard to estimate the actual number of deaths and injuries. Collage on picture from the mobile phone’s archive of one soldier. 2015, Ukraine.
Bohdan. Soldier on guarding position, Hirs'ke, ATO zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
Bohdan. Soldier on guarding position, Hirs’ke, ATO zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
Trenches. The grounds of the Donbass region in Ukraine have big reserves and sources of coal, mercury and salt. All of the scenery is dominated by mining heaps and abandoned factories. Military forces are stationed in mine buildings. Hirs'ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Trenches. The grounds of the Donbass region in Ukraine have big reserves and sources of coal, mercury and salt. All of the scenery is dominated by mining heaps and abandoned factories. Military forces are stationed in mine buildings. Hirs’ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Trenches. The grounds of the Donbass region in Ukraine have big reserves and sources of coal, mercury and salt. All of the scenery is dominated by mining heaps and abandoned factories. Military forces are stationed in mine buildings. Hirs'ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Trenches. The grounds of the Donbass region in Ukraine have big reserves and sources of coal, mercury and salt. All of the scenery is dominated by mining heaps and abandoned factories. Military forces are stationed in mine buildings. Hirs’ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
"The squad of nine killed and eight wounded.? Most of the voluntary soldiers during the first months of the war were not registered. Therefore it is hard to estimate the actual number of deaths and injuries. Collage on picture from the mobile phone's archive of one soldier. 2015, Ukraine.
“The squad of nine killed and eight wounded.? Most of the voluntary soldiers during the first months of the war were not registered. Therefore it is hard to estimate the actual number of deaths and injuries. Collage on picture from the mobile phone’s archive of one soldier. 2015, Ukraine.

 

The title Sparks refers to the burning pieces of missiles that mercilessly pierce the walls of people’s homes. The light of explosions reflects in faces and memories of the victims. History is told in unconventional way using documentary photography, portraits, collages, videos and collected materials from the soldiers.

 

Fire. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Fire. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Chawa. Soldier on leave in his hometown, December 2014, Lviv, Ukraine.
Chawa. Soldier on leave in his hometown, December 2014, Lviv, Ukraine.
A bombarded building. Lysychansk, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
A bombarded building. Lysychansk, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
An apartment after bombardment. Novotoshkivs'ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
An apartment after bombardment. Novotoshkivs’ke, ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
A classroom destroyed by gunfire. School in Novotoshkivs'ke, ATO zone, 2015, Ukraine.
A classroom destroyed by gunfire. School in Novotoshkivs’ke, ATO zone, 2015, Ukraine.
Destroyed granary. It used to be an observation point for separatists during the fights in Sloviansk, 2016, Ukraine.
Destroyed granary. It used to be an observation point for separatists during the fights in Sloviansk, 2016, Ukraine.
"Body", from the series of "Golden collages - Sparks", collage on picture from the mobile phone's archive of one soldier, 2015, Ukraine.
“Body”, from the series of “Golden collages – Sparks”, collage on picture from the mobile phone’s archive of one soldier, 2015, Ukraine.
Soldier inside the trenches. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Soldier inside the trenches. ATO zone (war zone), March 2015, Ukraine.
Chawa, 32, philosophy graduate, PR specialist, picture was taken after he spent 6 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
Chawa, 32, philosophy graduate, PR specialist, picture was taken after he spent 6 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
Garry, 34, music DJ, picture was taken after he spent 3 months in the war zone, January 2015, Ukraine.
Garry, 34, music DJ, picture was taken after he spent 3 months in the war zone, January 2015, Ukraine.
Andriy, 19, college student, picture was taken after he spent 9 months and 21 days in the war zone, January 2016, Ukraine.
Andriy, 19, college student, picture was taken after he spent 9 months and 21 days in the war zone, January 2016, Ukraine.

Portraits of young, non-professional soldiers form the backbone of the project. They went to fight in their sneakers, with weapons stolen from a museum, with all the fears and problems that any of us may encounter. They left their previous identities and occupations: philosopher, mechanic, astronomer, music DJ, bank assistant or high school students – none of them were prepared for what they were to experience. Whoever survives, is no longer the same person.

Sparks is still an ongoing project with the aim to depict next the changes which are happening in the country, consumed by war.

 

 

 

Short Bio

Photographer and Multimedia artist, Born in Lublin, Poland. Graduated from Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. In 2015 she became the Winner of Oskar Barnack Leica Newcomer Award and received awards for her project “Short Flashes” – portraits of drenched cyclists captured on the streets of metropolises in China. Nominated for: Joop Swart Masterclass 2016, Unseen Young Talents, Lucie Foundation Emerging Artists, Visura Grant, Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize and Foam Paul Huf Award. She took part artist residencies in Iceland, China and France. Her works were presented during the solo exhibitions and international art and photo festivals, published in magazines: British Journal of Photography, L’Oeil de la photographie, Vice, Leica Fotografie International, FT Weekend Magazine, Guardian.

Her first book “Short Flashes” published by Bemojake came out in May 2016.

 

Related Links

wiktoriawojciechowska.com

—–

 

The Emerging Photographer Fund is supported by generous donors to the Magnum Foundation

Magnum Foundation