Contemporary Photography from Ukraine: Symposium @University of Salford

New Adelphi Theatre, University of Salford / RSVP

Continuing the systematic work on the integration of British and Ukrainian art and photography sectors initiated by Open Eye Gallery and Ukrainian.Photographies in the summer of 2022, this symposium aims to shed light on the history and variety of practices shaping photography in Ukraine. The symposium will focus on documentary photography as a decolonial practice and its capability to capture historical events.

Funded by the UK/UA Creative Partnerships programme designed by the British Council and the Ukrainian Institute, the symposium will bring together academic researchers, art practitioners, and photographers from Ukraine and abroad, in order to structure and extend the knowledge about photography and visual practices in Ukraine. The symposium also aims to establish a network of internationally leading curators and researchers interested in working with Ukrainian photography and visual culture.

Curated by Kateryna Filyuk (researcher and PhD candidate, University of Palermo, Bibliotheca Hertziana Fellow), the symposium will take place over two days, and feature keynote speeches and panel discussions:

• “”It wasn’t that long ago”. Kyiv in architectural photography. Key speaker Alex Bykov (University of Brno);
• Panel 1. Iryna Pap: “The truth of life” in Soviet photo reportage. Panelists: Kateryna Filyuk (researcher and PhD candidate, University of Palermo, Bibliotheca Hertziana Fellow), Kateryna Iakovlenko (Researcher and Curator, Editor-in-chief of Suspilne Culture), moderator: Olena Chervonik (PhD, University of Oxford);
• Kharkiv School of Photography as Ukrainian Postmodernism. Key Speaker Olena Chervonik (PhD, University of Oxford);
• Panel 2. Viktor Marushchenko: Photographer and Educator. Panelists: Alex Bykov (University of Brno), Max Gorbatskyi (Curator, Open Eye Gallery and Ukrainian.Photographies), moderator: Darius Vaicekauskas (Curator, Chairman of Klaipėda‘s Department of Lithuanian Photographic Association);
• Contemporary Photography and Photo-Related Art Practices in Ukraine. Key Speaker Kateryna Filyuk (researcher and PhD candidate, University of Palermo, Bibliotheca Hertziana Fellow);
• Panel Discussion. Curating and Researching Photography from Ukraine. Participants: Darius Vaicekauskas (Curator, Chairman of Klaipėda‘s Department of Lithuanian Photographic Association), Kateryna Radchenko (Researcher, Curator, and founder of the Odesa Photo Days International Festival of Contemporary Photography), David Elliott (Curator, Artistic Director of First Kyiv Biennale of Contemporary Art), Max Gorbatskyi (Curator, Open Eye Gallery and Ukrainian.Photographies), Emine Ziyatdinova (documentary photographer, Co-Founder of Ukrainian Warchive).
• Panel 3. Alexander Chekmenev: From Local Story to Global History. Panelists: Viktoria Bavykina (Curator and Art Critic, Ukrainian.Photographies), Emine Ziyatdinova (documentary photographer, Co-Founder of Ukrainian Warchive). Moderator: Ben Harman (Director, Stills Centre for Photography).
• Panel 4. Transformation of the Photography During the Wartime. Panelists: Kateryna Iakovlenko (Researcher and Curator, Editor-in-chief of Suspilne Culture), Michael Kurtz (Birkbeck University Photography Research Centre). Moderator: Kateryna Radchenko (Researcher, Curator, and founder of the Odesa Photo Days International Festival of Contemporary Photography).

Kateryna Filyuk, researcher and PhD candidate, University of Palermo, symposium curator, said: As a scholar and a curator who engages with photography in Ukraine, I see growing interest in the subject shadowed by the lack of institutional infrastructure that can facilitate knowledge production and dissemination. I hope the symposium will provide a platform for discussion and create a new network of theorists and practitioners interested in exploring this  almost uncharted territory. 

Anastasiia Manuliak, Head of Visual Art, Ukrainian Institute, said: We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Open Eye Gallery and NGO Ukrainian Photography in the framework of Home exhibition, showcasing distinguished examples of Ukrainian photography. During Russia’s war in Ukraine, art and culture have become the fulcrum of social resistance, with photography playing an exceptional role as a medium that both reflects and captures the essence of the times. The symposium program specifically focuses on Ukrainian documentary photographers, aiming to provide a deeper understanding not only of the evolution and trends in Ukrainian photography but also of the social and historical context of Ukrainian art.  

LIVE STREAMING: The symposium will be live-streamed via Open Eye Gallery’s YouTube channel. Please register your interest for this via Eventbrite tickets.

Events and displays accompanying the symposium:

DOCUMENTARY SCREENING: Glyadyelov, showing in the New Adelphi Theatre, Tuesday 5th March, 4:20PM

With a special introduction from directors Ksenia Kravtsova and Vladyslav Nechyporenko for this screening, the documentary follows the work of renowned Ukrainian photographer and photojournalist Oleksandr Glyadyelov.

EXHIBITION: Home, New Adelphi atrium space and outside walls

Alongside the symposium, the New Adelphi building will display the Home exhibition on its first stop of the Arts Council England funded UK tour, with a launch event held on Monday 4th March from 6–7:30PM. Home showcases work from 15 Ukrainian photographers who reveal Ukrainians’ current experience, and fundamental human values that underpin our idea of ‘home’: family and friends in a safe space, the beautiful landscapes, culture, and identity. The exhibition was first shown in Liverpool at Open Eye Gallery in May 2023.

FILM SCREENINGS: Home from Home by Open Eye Gallery, showing in the New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery, from 4-8th March

The accompanying film to the exhibition, Home from Home, will screen for a week in the exhibition space of the New Adelphi. In Home from Home, interviews with Ukrainian and UK citizens, photographers and curators are layered with lyric responses by UK poets, to create an overarching sense of the power of art to express various perspectives on the importance of home.

HOME BOOK: For sale at the New Adelphi Box Office

Including photographs and commissioned poems, and written contributions by symposium participants Viktoria Bavykina, Max Gorbatskyi, Sarah Fisher, Kateryna Filyuk, and Ben Harman; plus the University of Salford Art Collection’s lead Lindsay Taylor, and poetry from Salford’s Professor of Creative Writing, Jackie Kay CBE. More information about the book. Pre-order for £16.00 / Box office price £20.00