Open Eye Gallery team visited Ukraine: Great city, artists and people, living under war

Peer to Peer: UK/Ukraine was a symposium in Lviv, organised by the Ukrainian Photography NGO in collaboration with Lviv National Academy of Arts, Open Eye Gallery, University of Salford. The event brought together teachers, curators, archivists, researchers and students for a direct exchange of knowledge and skills about different aspects of photography. 

Tadhg Devlin, Open Eye Gallery’s Head of social practice, shared his impressions from the visit: “Still processing an incredibly moving trip to Ukraine. 

 

It was a true privilege to visit Lviv as part of the symposium. The trip provided a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict, leaving us all reflecting on the terror faced by the residents of Lviv, alongside their inspiring bravery and resilience. A huge, heartfelt thank you to the Ukrainian photographers, educators, and speakers who shared their stories and vital work with us, and to the British Council for their invaluable support in making this happen.”

Images by The British Council in Ukraine 

 

Sarah Fisher, Executive Director at Open Eye Gallery, added: “Working with partners in Ukraine over the last 4 years has shaped a significant strand of Open Eye Gallery’s programme. However, visiting Ukraine recently to participate in the symposium gave an insight I am still processing. As a visitor I walked through beautiful European architecture in the relatively safe city of Lviv, noticing the daily indicators of the immense war effort, and experiencing the emptying of streets during the drone alarms. 

 

The students, staff, artists, researchers and cultural leaders we met were all discussing how important Ukrainian culture is at this time – in reclaiming Ukrainian past, investigating the present and underpinning the county’s future identity. For the UK, both education sectors like our symposium partner the University of Salford, and our cultural partners nationally, a better understanding of the nuances of Ukrainian history and culture is essential. And the symposium embodied a significant contribution to this goal. Open Eye Gallery is grateful to the British Council and everyone who made this happen.”