Ukrainian art at Fotografiska – artist tour at the 1st floor display
10th of May 16.00
On May 9, Estonia’s first-ever festival dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian art, UKU, will launch. This cultural diplomacy initiative stands in solidarity with Ukraine and its culture, grounded in the belief that creativity will always prevail. The festival spans multiple exhibition venues and galleries across Tallinn — including Fotografiska Tallinn.
On the first floor of Fotografiska, the café walls feature works by three Ukrainian photographic artists. Their images capture emotional reflections and personal experiences tied to events in Ukraine, expressing a longing for freedom and humanity. The art display will remain open through August.
On Saturday, May 10 at 4 PM, a public artist tour will take place on Fotografiska’s first floor, led by two of the art display artists — Taras Bychko and Tania Ruda. The tour will explore their creative journeys, the meaning behind their displayed works, and the broader significance of Ukrainian art in today’s world. The tour is free and will last about 30 minutes.
About the artists:
Taras Bychko (b. 1987, Lviv, Ukraine) is a documentary and fine art photographer currently based in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England. His exhibited series is titled "06.03.22 53".
Taras’s work explores themes of memory, space, identity, and the relationship between people and their environments. Through his lens, he captures the poetry of everyday life, navigating the line between subjectivity and objectivity while allowing the reality of the moment to “direct” the image. His projects often address forced migration, urban transformation, nostalgia, and the emotional states of people in times of transition.
Tania Ruda (b. 1978, Kyiv, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian artist, curator, and fashion photographer currently living in Prague, Czech Republic.
Her series, "Shades of Being", continues her exploration of the human body as a medium of experience, perception, and transformation. The work delves into the body’s silent expression — how it absorbs and reflects the surrounding world, and how it responds to its environment.
Also featured in the first-floor display is the work of a third Ukrainian artist, Vira Minailova (b. 2000, Ukraine). Her series, titled "Transformation", complements the themes of change and resilience explored by her fellow artists.
Following tours
* On May 10th at 4:30 PM, the Dokfoto UKU-fest tour with Pavlo Mazai.
* On May 10th at 5:00 PM, there will be a tour of the Estonian illustration exhibition “Sandwiches with Summer and Wind” in English, guided by the exhibition curators Bianka Soe and Lilian Hiob.
Päis: UKU fest, foto seeriast '06.03.22 53' © Taras Bychko