SPARKS by Wiktoria Wojciechowska
The motivation to begin the project entitled “Sparks” was a desire to create a multifaceted portrait of a contemporary war. In particular a portrait of the conflict in Ukraine, which seems to be forgotten even though it is happening in Europe. The aspects of war such as: how it is run, its influence on the life of ordinary people and its impact on the environment are visualized by various media. In this case the center and the core of the project is constructed through meeting the people who witness the war directly. Portraits of young soldiers created during the individual conversations with every one of them form the backbone of this project.
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Wiktoria Wojciechowska – photographer, visual artist. The Winner of Oskar Barnack Leica Newcomer Award 2015. She has just completed project “Sparks” in the territory of conflict in Ukraine which won Portfolio Review on Krakow Photomonth 2015. She was nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass 2016, Unseen Young Talents, Lucie Foundation Emerging Artists, Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize and Foam Paul Huf Award. Her works were presented on international festivals and published in various magazines.
She took part in artist residencies in Reykjavik and Beijing is the recipient of Prix pour la Photographie 2016 by Fondation des Treilles. Her first book “Short Flashes” published by Bemojake came out in May 2016.
- Trenches. Hirs’ke, ATO zone (war zone), Ukraine, March 2015.
- A bombarded building. Lysychansk, ATO zone (war zone), Ukraine, 2015.
- A bridge in Semenivka – one of the first front lines. On one side were the separatists, on the other the Ukrainians. The town was completely destroyed. Semenivka, ATO zone (war zone), Ukraine, March, 2015
- Fire. ATO zone (war zone), Ukraine, March 2015.
- Andriy, 27, astronomy graduate, picture was taken after he spent 9 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
- Chawa, 32, philosophy graduate, PR specialist, picture was taken after he spent 6 months in the war zone, March 2015, Ukraine.
- Andriy, 32, director of the company’s credit, picture was taken after he spent 12 months in the war zone, July 2015, Ukraine.
- Elf, 29, worker, paratrooper, picture was taken after he spent 12 months in the war zone, July 2015, Ukraine.
- Vitaliy (Victor), 29, worker, picture was taken after he spent 12 months in the war zone, January 2016, Ukraine.
- “The squad of nine killed and eight wounded”. From the series of “Golden collages” – “Sparks”, collage made on picture from the cellphone of one soldier, 2015.