This time, the exhibition is presented in an expanded form, as it is possible to display not only photographs but also artifacts of war and remember fallen comrades.
The exhibition's opening was attended by veterans, including soldiers of the 2nd Legion, cultural and public figures, artists, musicians, poets, writers, and representatives of the local administration. One of the guests was writer Yuri Andrukhovych.
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“I’m going on a tour of Latin America right now, so I take great interest in the topic of foreign volunteers in this war, and this exhibition has given me more information and understanding than all the news I have read on the subject before,” he said, gifting the 2nd Legion library with a collection of his poems translated into English.
“Usually, photos of war show pain, suffering, and destruction. In this regard, Alex Zakletsky's exhibition stands out for the author’s concept, his desire to tell about the war in a different language and with a different story,” said media artist, VJ, and digital sculptor Denis Ovchar, describing the exhibition. “The angle chosen by the author allows the photos to pulsate with a thirst for life!”
“Despite being about war, where life and death are side by side, this is an exhibition where life prevails, and it triumphs! For me, it’s also about the creativity of those on our side, their irony and flexible minds, and the mind always wins over brute force!” commented exhibition curator Rostislav Shpuk.
The author of the exhibition is Oleksandr Zakletsky, a soldier of the 2nd International Legion of Defense of Ukraine, photographer, translator, journalist, and representative of Ukraine in the European Cultural Parliament. At one time, he volunteered for military service in this very unit.
“According to historians, the formation of chivalric ideals originated with the Roman cavalry, which was the elite of the Roman legions. Chivalry was in the first place a code of virtues, where valor, loyalty, nobility, and honor were considered the most important. The shared values of people from entirely different geographical backgrounds enabled them to unite in order to achieve a common goal. These shared values evolved into the aesthetics of chivalry, which artists still admire today. Therefore, when I joined the 2nd International Legion of Defense of Ukraine (and I did so purposefully and consciously), I realized that the Legion is, in fact, a knightly order. It is an inclusive military structure consisting exclusively of volunteers, both Ukrainians and representatives of more than 40 countries. Joining the ranks of this special forces battalion, I, as a researcher and artist, was intrigued by this very moment of forming an aesthetic that inspires us to take up arms and fight against the latest incarnation of global evil.
The author did not plan a project about combat operations or individual personalities, nor did he attempt to describe the combat operations of one of the Ukrainian units — he set himself a much deeper goal:
“I originally thought these photographs would become reflections on classical paintings depicting the life of knights, so they are more static than dynamic. But sometimes, initially unnoticeable details can reveal a new aesthetic emerging within such military brotherhoods,” emphasized Oleksandr Zakletsky.
The exhibition will run until May 11, 2025, at the following address: Ivano-Frankivsk, 7 Pylypa Orlyka Street, underground passage ”Vagabundo.”
Admission is by donation.
Learn more about the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine here, please.
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