VARVARA UHLIK
*UPCOMING*
SUNSHINE, HOW ARE YOU?
SLAV GAZE
DIGITAL (AFTER)
PLAYLAND
VIDEO WORKS
COMMISSIONS AND NOT
VARVARA UHLIK
*UPCOMING*
SUNSHINE, HOW ARE YOU?
SLAV GAZE
DIGITAL (AFTER)
PLAYLAND
VIDEO WORKS
COMMISSIONS AND NOT
(SUNSHINE, HOW ARE YOU?)
“Sunshine, how are you?” is a personal project that delves into my childhood memories and the enduring effects of the post-Soviet era on my identity. Born in eastern Ukraine five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, I was often reminded of my fortune in not having experienced the hardships of Soviet rule. However, as I matured, I began grappling with a profound sense of disorientation and uncertainty about my identity, akin to the elusive sense of self experienced by a Soviet citizen.
My childhood was characterized by moments of pure joy, such as savoring my mother's homemade sour cherry varenyky and the thrill of climbing trees. Simultaneously, it was shaped by the strict discipline of the Soviet era, leaving an indelible mark on my development. The predominant influence during my formative years was a community deeply entrenched in Soviet values, encompassing my family, educators, neighbors, and even the local shopkeepers and president. Despite the Soviet Union's dissolution, the oppressive influence of our Eastern neighbor persists, and I now find myself separated from my family and home due to the ongoing war.
To navigate this emotional and existential terrain, I employ photography as a medium to revisit and recontextualize my past in eastern Ukraine. Through “Sunshine, how are you?”, I deconstruct and reconstruct fragments of my childhood memories, with each image contributing to the puzzle of my identity.
This project explores the ongoing impact of Russian colonialism and examines the identity of a contemporary woman from the post-Soviet era in Ukraine. It serves as an introspective journey and a portrayal of an entire generation that came of age in the post-Soviet milieu.
WALKTHROUGH MEMORY LANE - short film