‘I’m Not Fine’: Ukrainian photographer Elena Kalinichenko captures the invisible trauma of war
After her associate left for struggle, Elena Kalinichenko turned to pictures to seize her private battle, documenting the emotional toll of struggle on these left behind.
Throughout occasions of struggle, a lot of the struggling stays invisible, hidden behind the on a regular basis struggles of these left to manage.
Ukrainian documentary photographer and photojournalist Elena Kalinichenko got down to reveal these hidden scars by her deeply private challenge, I’m Not Fantastic: “Whereas most struggle photographs give attention to destruction, I need to seize the inner struggles and trauma that conceal behind closed doorways.”
After selecting to remain in Kyiv in the course of the invasion and later dealing with the loneliness and concern of her associate becoming a member of the military, Kalinichenko turned to pictures as a approach to course of the overwhelming weight of the state of affairs.
Her haunting photographs, capturing herself and her household throughout blackouts with nothing however a flashlight, have been shortlisted for the Saltzman-Leibovitz Images Prize, an initiative launched by Annie Leibovitz and Lisa Saltzman final yr.
Euronews Tradition spoke with Kalinichenko to debate her artistic course of, the facility of vulnerability in her work, and the way pictures can present a path to therapeutic.
Euronews Tradition: Are you able to inform us in regards to the second you determined to remain in Kyiv in the course of the struggle? What impressed that call regardless of the dangers?
Elena Kalinichenko: It was the third day of the full-scale invasion. My associate and I have been 30km from Kyiv, serving to to construct barricades. He begged me to go west to security, however I knew I couldn’t keep nonetheless whereas my metropolis was surrounded by enemy troops. My household refused to go away Kyiv, and my brother was simply 10. I couldn’t go away him behind. I returned to be with him if the worst occurred. I returned to volunteer, serving to these defending my residence. These have been the toughest days of my life and essentially the most tough resolution I’ve ever needed to make. I wouldn’t want that on anybody.
What was it like for you personally when your associate joined the military?
It was terrifying, however I used to be ready for this second. We all the time knew at the present time would come. I simply needed to discover ways to dwell by the fixed shelling by myself, because it had already deeply affected my psychological and bodily well being. My associate, nevertheless, is far stronger and braver than me, and I’m extremely pleased with him.
Your challenge ‘I’m Not Fantastic’ focuses on the emotional/human influence of the struggle. Why and the way did you develop this strategy to documenting folks’s experiences?
The strategy got here naturally as a result of I began with my very own story, hoping pictures would assist me course of my feelings. I made a decision to give attention to issues which have develop into peculiar for Ukrainians, issues we’ve discovered to dwell with however that stay horrible and unimaginable to others. I began this challenge to disclose the invisible scars of struggle. Whereas most struggle photographs give attention to destruction, I need to seize the inner struggles and trauma that conceal behind closed doorways.
The darkness in your photographs performs an necessary function in your work. How did you resolve on this visible fashion and what does it symbolize for you?
These photographs have been taken throughout blackouts. I had little pure gentle and no electrical energy for 12-20 hours a day. All of us lived in darkness. Regardless that assaults on the vitality system are actually uncommon, the darkness stays. It’s what residing by this time really appears like. A large black gap that consumes you, rising larger each day. I additionally realised that individuals typically overlook the plain, even when the reality is true in entrance of them. So I used direct gentle to spotlight what wanted to be seen, making it not possible to disregard.
How did you go about photographing your loved ones members for ‘I’m Not Fantastic’ and what was it like capturing their vulnerability by your digicam?
I took footage of my mom and youthful brother. Our relationship is constructed on love and belief, however this was the primary time I took such severe photographs. I didn’t inform them what to do or touch upon their expressions. I merely shared what I needed to seize, and so they understood instantly. That understanding got here from the shared experiences all of us carried inside. It was the primary time they opened up like that.
What was essentially the most difficult side of this challenge?
I normally don’t take footage of myself, so it was an actual problem. It was shocking and onerous to take a look at the photographs and realise there was no happiness in them, to see myself with no masks.
What do you hope viewers take away from these photographs? How do you assume artwork/pictures may help within the therapeutic course of for these affected by struggle?
Individuals must dwell by their ache to have the ability to heal. Maybe the photographs are a chance for folks to speak and really feel. I hope it would supply others a way of connection, serving to them navigate their experiences and never face their grief alone. And for many who by no means confronted the struggle to get nearer to Ukrainians and perceive us higher.
You’ve talked about that ‘I’m Not Fantastic’ is just the start. What different tales or themes do you hope to discover sooner or later by this challenge?
I need to discover the tales of individuals from totally different cities and ages, specializing in the deep feelings they expertise and the way they address our collective trauma. I am curious to see how our shared experiences differ. It additionally appears that little or no is alleged about civilians with post-traumatic stress dysfunction, how they adapt to life and the way they’re handled.
What does it imply to you to be shortlisted for the Saltzman-Leibovitz Images Prize?
Being shortlisted for the Saltzman-Leibovitz Images Prize means so much to me. It jogs my memory that my work has a spot in a much bigger dialog and that the feelings and tales I seize matter. This recognition motivates me to maintain going and push my pictures additional. It additionally offers me hope that my work can attain extra folks and encourage necessary discussions.
