A new exhibition contrasts the experience of those enduring the second world war in London with Ukrainians currently taking cover from Russian bombs
Underground stations and metro systems provide shelter to citizens during periods of war – now and in the past. The exhibition displays 70 historical images from the museum collection, alongside 38 contemporary photographs by six renowned, mainly Ukrainian, documentary photographersLondon’s most concentrated period of bombing, and tube sheltering, was between September 1940 and May 1941, known as the blitz.
Ukraine was once part of the Soviet Union and most metro stations were built during the cold war to also function as bomb shelters in case of western attacks. Those same stations are now protecting Ukrainian civilians from Russian missiles. Viacheslav Ratynkyi, a photographer featured in the exhibition, said: ‘On the first day of the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022 I went down into the metro for the first time.
Ukrainian citizens are shown sleeping, waiting, cooking and washing clothes, in makeshift homes in metro stations in Kyiv and Kharkiv. Serhii Korovayny, a photographer featured in the exhibition, said: ‘I now believe even more in the power of photojournalism. Pictures are an important tool to show and make understandable the different experiences of this war, in Ukraine itself and abroad.
Photographer Pavlo Dorohoi: ‘A lot of this project was about the traces of people’s presence in the subway. Many people did not want to be filmed, and I chose to show this presence through the things that people leave behind when they live somewhere. There were cases when people didn’t want to be filmed because they were ashamed of the way they looked. They didn’t want to appear poor and unhappy even in such situations. Appearance is important for our culture.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine war: Australian MPs fear Ukraine trip vetoOverly cautious bureaucrats could stop senior politicians from taking up an invitation to visit war-torn Kyiv.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war: Australia signs up to drone coalition to help UkraineAustralia and Britain will also upgrade military ties under new treaty following defence talks in Canberra.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war live: British foreign minister says he opposes sending western troops to UkraineDavid Cameron says placing foreign soldiers would provide targets for Russia, even if on training missions
Read more »
Ukraine-Russia war: US sends ‘desperate’ Ukraine $454m in weapons as further aid stallsThe US has put together a package of weapons and other aid even as President Biden’s request for billions of dollars more remains stalled in Congress.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war: This obscure museum is helping Ukraine fight RussiaAn attraction in the British countryside is proving vital in the modern-day fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Read more »
Ukraine war briefing: Russian forces occupying Ukraine use torture as ‘policy’, says UN expertAlice Jill Edwards says 90% of Ukraine’s 103,000 open cases relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity are registered as torture cases – what we know on day 745
Read more »