SOMETHING’S WRONG (2024)


This photograph was captured within the walls of a medieval fortress. This ancient structure, with its centuries-old solidity, stands as a symbol of endurance, seemingly immune to the passage of time. Yet, as I reflected on its stability, my thoughts inevitably turned to the fragility of life in Ukraine, where sense of security was shattered by the Russian invasion. Later I found out that the monument in the photo was made of cannonballs — another reminder and connection to the war.
In this work, I sought to convey the disarray and disruption that has become the new reality for so many Ukrainians. When you first look at the picture you think that everything is fine, only after a few seconds you start noticing that something is wrong. By physically cutting the image and rearranging its fragments, I aimed to visually represent this sense of instability. The embroidery overlaying the image symbolizes the path of any Ukrainian — unpredictable, fragmented, yet resilient in its spontaneity.



Copyright 2021-2024 
© All rights reserved – Maryna Shtanko