na chuzhiy zemli ('on a foreign land')
2023 – ongoing
is a story about young Ukrainian refugees, who were supposed to become a future generation of their own country, but have been spread around the world after the brutal Russian invasion.
on a foreign land
what will we build
and to whom shall belong
what we will build
on a foreign land
"Zemlia" is a unique word in Ukrainian language, that can be translated as "land", but also "ground", "soil", "Earth" and even "world" itself.
Zemlia was always a central figure of Ukrainian culture, mythology and philosophy, because the battle for our lands never stopped throughout history.
For this new photography project, I portray young Ukrainians in their new places of temporary (?) residence, and conduct interviews about their new sense of self and identity.