Works
Dispersed Roots
Installation, cellulose, soil, seeds
The installation is a metaphorical reflection of the decline of the Ukrainian village, the preservation of its roots, and the process of reanimating lost connections between humans, nature, and culture.
The Ukrainian village has long been an embodiment of the symbiosis between nature and humanity. Architectural forms built according to ecological principles using local materials such as clay, wood, and stone have transformed over time into archetypes of integration with the landscape. These building practices, passed down through generations, reflect not only a utilitarian aspect but also a sacred component of existence, where each element of the village had its own autonomous semantics and function.
In modern conditions, this way of life is undergoing erosion. War, economic turbulence, and urbanisation have led to a depopulation of villages as people move to cities, leaving behind the ruins of once-flourishing communities. Houses, abandoned and overgrown with wild plants, stand as silent witnesses to forgotten traditions and knowledge that were once vessels of vital energy. They symbolise a loss of connection with ancestors and nature, which was not only a source of resources but also an inexhaustible source of inspiration and meaning.
The installation addresses the ontological aspects of interaction between humans and their environment. On one hand, the cottages are an incarnation of human labour, routine, and a work ethic that demands self-sacrifice and sustained effort. On the other hand, the overgrown plants serve as a reminder of nature's ability to regenerate and adapt even when human presence weakens. They represent the indomitable force of life breaking through the ruins, once again reminding us of the cyclicality of existence and the constant connection between the past and the future.
Frozen Flow
Video, AI
02:37:00 min, loop.
Koziyivka, Lisne, Sharivka, Krasny Kut - Kharkiv Oblast
Travneve, Zbarazh - Ternopil Oblast
This video work explores the paradox of the simultaneous flow and stagnation of time in rural areas, where culture accumulates, crystallises, and transforms under its influence.
In rural areas, time seems to have its own logic, distinct from the rapid rhythm of urban life. It is a space where history and modernity coexist in a close interconnection, forming a complex cultural landscape. The practices preserved here have accumulated over generations, as if crystallising into forms that appear immutable while simultaneously undergoing constant transformation. Traditions that were once alive and dynamic gradually transition into a state of slow, yet relentless movement, signalling the change of the village itself.
This work raises questions: what does a village mean today? Is it truly in decline, or is it in a state of transformation? What forces are influencing this process? War, migration, urbanisation—all these factors blur the clear boundaries between life in the village and the city, simultaneously shaping a new reality where the old and the new intertwine, creating a unique chronotope.
The video explores several locations, comparing their present and how various factors affect their evolution. We see villages in different phases of this process—from those that have almost completely emptied and fallen into ruin to those where new life attempts to sprout through old structures, and those that are transforming into something new while preserving their cultural code.
