Eurovision: UK’s largest showcase of Ukrainian photography launches tonight

Developed with 49 partners and 44 sites across Liverpool City Region as part of EuroFestival, Home opens tonight, May 4, in the Open Eye Gallery at Mann Island from 6.00pm.

It’s fantastic that Eurovision is here in Liverpool. But we have to remember it is not just about having a party, we must not lose sight of why we’re having to do this. Our history, our musical heritage, our culture, and our ferocious tenacity against social injustice makes our city the ideal place to host the Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.

The launch will showcase 11 new commissions by Ukrainian photographers & UK poets, creating diptychs in public spaces and on Merseyrail sites.

There are 6 exhibitions featuring 20 Ukrainian photographers across 6 cultural venues.

An app inviting people to 5 Home Trails taking you to 25 independent spaces hosting a Ukrainian artwork and encouraging everyone to collect the postcard and respond with their own words.

There’s also a book, a zine, a film, a school activity pack, a new writing competition, poetry readings, community workshops and events.

We had a chance to speak to the curators Viktoria Bavykina and Max Gorbatskyi yesterday at an early viewing, you can see what they had to say here:

Viktoria Bavykina and Max Gorbatskyi, curators, said:

“We believe that the visibility of Ukrainian culture is vital for its decolonisation, which, in turn, is a prerequisite for securing our identity and the right to own our history and future.

“The exhibition has been created in a dialogue between the Ukrainian, European and British photography sectors and presents diverse approaches to work with the photographic medium and different perspectives on Ukraine’s past and present.”

Sarah Fisher, director of Open Eye Gallery, said:

“Home as about the celebration and survival of Ukrainian culture amidst more urgent survival, and Open Eye Gallery team are proud to stand with Ukraine as they fight for their home.

“Our era of international sharing online sees people uploading 2 billion photographs per day. Photography is now the international language of democracy.

“Home’s photographers reveal Ukrainians’ current experience, and as importantly, fundamental human values that underpin our idea of ‘home’: family and friends in a safe space, the beautiful landscapes of our home country, human creativity and the culture within which we recognise ourselves – our identity.”

Find out all about Home at the Open Eye Gallery website here.