In his documentary photography project, Sergii Polezhaka portrays the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war through images of destroyed gardens and homes across the country. In this series, the author views the garden as a symbol of Ukrainian society and its values. The images not only witness the brutality of the war but also encourage viewers to reflect on it by exploring themes of dignity, jealousy, and endurance, as well as considering the national myth in their perception of Ukrainian society and the colonial perspective of the Russian invaders.
The author notes that the garden as a space has a special meaning: it is not as intimate as a room in a house, but not as public as a city square. With the beginning of the full-scale war, this space between the personal and the public also became a cause of jealousy and aggression for the occupants. In Bohdanivka, Kyiv region, Russians occupied and stayed in one of the houses on the edge of the village. This mid-sized house featured a mixed-style garden combining pines with the Ukrainian guelder rose, and a manicured lawn. A neighbour, who had extinguished a fire there, told us about the last action of the Russian IFV that hit the house. In addition to the destruction, the Russians left a mark on one of the walls a contemptuous verdict: “Bourgeois”.
Sergii Polezhaka is a Ukrainian photographer, director, and producer. He graduated from the Danish School of Media and Journalism in 2016. Since 2014, he has been documenting the Russo-Ukrainian war. He has worked with various global media and organisations, including RFE/RL, BILD, The New York Times, UNICEF, GIZ, and WWF. In 2016, together with Alexey Furman, he co-founded New Cave Media, which has pioneered 360/VR storytelling in Ukraine.
The Naïve Ukrainian Gardens series is included in the 13 Stories of War photo book by Ukrainian Warchive, which brings together 13 visual essays by Ukrainian photographers in response to the full-scale war. Moving beyond conventional narratives, these photographic testimonies are accompanied by insightful text, offering readers a nuanced and personal perspective that goes beyond typical media coverage. Delving into the themes of resilience, loss, and hope, the essays provide a vivid portrayal of the human experience amid war.
Ukrainian Warchive — is a digital archive that collects and preserves images from photographers documenting the Russo-Ukrainian War. The project aims to protect the photographic heritage and memory of the war.
The book is supported by the Swedish Institute, the Hasselblad Foundation and the Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna (Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen, IWM) within the Documenting Ukraine program.
All proceeds from the book sales go towards grant programmes for Ukrainian photographers. More information about the project can be found here: www.warchive.com.ua
The exhibition was implemented with the support of the Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (IWM) as part of the Documenting Ukraine program.
Sergiy Polezhaka. A view on rosarium in front of destroyed house in Ozera, Kyiv region. Сourtesy of the artist.