New Ukrainian Values

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARYNA ASLANOVA

Karyna Aslanova is a Kyiv-born Ukrainian multimedia artist, director and photographer. Although photography is her principal medium, Aslanova uses video, painting, illustration and poetry to further her exploration of a multitude of subjects. Aslanova’s art photography projects often use other-worldly imagery to reflect modern social issues, with a vague but familiar base note perceptible through a haze of the strange and incongruous.

This photo series, ‘New Ukrainian Values’, is an ongoing project that has gained life due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which opened many eyes to what is really important in our short and absolutely unpredictable lives.

Images included are true answers from real people from Ukraine to the question, ‘What is valuable now?’ The compositions of the photographs are built in such a way as to resemble shrines and religious ceremonies – something valuable and vital and held above all else.

Asked about the driving force behind the project, the artist stated: ‘Being a Ukrainian artist living abroad, I realised that most of all I want my art and creativity to be helpful, to start and continue a dialogue that leads to positive action.’

I’ve been in love with someone else for years. I foolishly married a man that I love and care for but wasn’t in love with just as the love of my life came into the picture. It is agonising for us both. We have had periods of being very involved with each other and long periods of not seeing one another. Nothing changes it. We have decided to have no contact unless there is a big change, which would mean me devastating a good man and my young children. My heart is broken. No one knows.