The light & dark

This series is about the notions of the light and dark in current turbulent times in Eastern Europe. The idea was sparked by two, in a way contradicting, quotes. The first is one of my favorite pieces from Joseph Brodsky: "...And although the speed of light can’t in nature covet thanks, non-being blue armor plate, prizing attempts at making a sifter of it, might use my pinhole, at any rate." (Taps / Меня упрекали во всем, 1994) The second is a piece of the song by Sveta Ben & Galya Chikiss (in my translation): "I turned off the instinct of self-preservation And believe that this is not happening to me. The pain recedes. So, all the bullets that managed to reach the target At the same time are flying past. The shadow accepts them, But it doesn't give a shit -- Since it is elusive and irresponsible, And it is mine. How sharp the shadow's edges are -- like a tincan lid. It has no nerves. It is not like me. The utmost evil inside me thank you for The utmost evil inside me. It is unbearably beautiful. It is solid and precious. The most genuine The utmost evil inside me. There are many things in kindness. There are no impurities in rage. If you want, ask God what else he extracts the light from. Only out of ultimate rage goes the light of the ultimate brightness." (The utmost evil inside me / Самое злое, 2022) I was born in Belarus, and that's why in this project I'm pondering about the tragic historical transformation that Belarusian society and the whole region -- Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine -- is going through now. The photographs were taken in Poland where I live now with my family after leaving Belarus in 2022 because of the political situation and the war in Ukraine. In this series, I try to spot the light and dark as metaphors of the good and evil to explore the interplay between them. This project reflects my own emotions as a person who is striving for the light in the dark, but -- eventually -- I found the source of the light in my own dark side. My purpose is to invite a viewer into the realm of abstractions and think about the notions of the light and dark on different levels -- personal and global ones. I devote this series to those who were forced to leave their places and now, being spread around the world, keep dreaming of the best. To those who weave the "fabric of civilization" from bits of light, regardless of the nationality or a country. To everyone who strive to the light in the dark.