On April 27th, join us for a special one-day presentation of new work by emerging documentary filmmaker and photographer Liliya Syvytska.
Liliya Syvytska’s short documentary Elegy of living voices, filmed on location in Ukraine, follows life in villages as residents adapt to a new reality after liberation from Russian occupation. Syvytska joined the volunteer organisation Repair Together, continuously travelling with them for several weeks while documenting daily life in the post-battle zones. In the film, local communities welcome volunteers who not only help them rebuild, but also share music and moments of joy, despite the trauma of the war.
Accompanying the film is a suite of ten photographs, taken in central and northern regions of Ukraine. The images recall the photojournalism of Alexander Glyadyelov, presented in The Polygon 2022 exhibition Alexander Glyadyelov: Gathering Darkness, which Syvytska helped to produce.
“The war and its shadow stay forever – in the body, in the memories, in stories, like a long mourning song,” says Syvytska. “Elegy, in the form of a film and photographs, appears after a serious reflection on witnessing life surviving war. Through work, hope, and human connection, light and voices grow, reaching the photographs’ edges and touching hearts.”
The artist will be onsite from 6pm-7pm to discuss the photographs on view. At 7pm, Elegy of living voices will be screened, followed by a talkback and Q&A.
RSVPs are helpful.
