Regeneration Generation

In Regeneration Generation I intend to portray what constitutes a critical cultural infrastructure,
and how much impact the full-scale russian invasion has on the cultural development and
manifestation within the Ukrainian society. This specific selection of photographs for Interwoven
focusses on a once iconic Kharkiv printing house, which is brought back to life during wartime by
a handful of people who created DRUK, a safe space for artistic, social, and cultural initiatives.
In search along the frontline city of Kharkiv, I got acquainted with the local artistic community
through Ihor Sukhorukov and twenty-two year old artist-curator Mahran Tata, founder of Tvorche
Nezhit and program curator of DRUK. Despite trauma and daily russian destruction, these artists,
poets and musicians hold on to the desire to create and organize, without which it is impossible to
live. Through photography, text and interviews I aim to chronicle their bootstrapping creation.
The three-story building No. 10/2 at the intersection of Honcharivska Boulevard and Velyka
Honcharivska Street was developed as a printing house in 1898. Since then, it served different
printing houses during wars, the communist regime, and the early decades of Ukrainian
Independence, before becoming abandoned and in a state of disrepair. In 2021, a new private
owner appeared, who decided to restore and revitalize the historic building.
Despite the partial freeze of the project due to the full-scale russian invasion and threat of
occupation, Viktor Dvornikov, a conservation architect and leader of the Kharkiv branch of the
Heritage Emergency Response Initiative, was tasked with the design and restoration of the
complete building. His first effort in 2023 was to repurpose the existing basement into an official
bomb shelter with power supply. It is called the DRUK Art Shelter. Today this is one of a few safe
and creative spaces in Kharkiv, hosting a co-working space and several permanent residents
delivering exhibitions, theatre plays, literature slams, book presentations, public talks, English
language lessons, concerts and raves.
One of DRUK’s permanent residents is Tata’s Tvorche Nezhit (the "Creative Undead/Flu”). It is a
gallery, a film, and the artistic association that created them. In just six weeks during war, four
Kharkiv artists formed the beating heart of the contemporary Kharkiv underground, and have
continued its radical work of developing, transforming and gradually reforming the art-scene.
Evolving from the wooden frames from their first outdoor flash exhibition on the Kharkiv streets to
a small damp basement, Tvorche Nezhit now manages the gallery space on the second floor of
DRUK. In less than two years, eighteen exhibitions were mounted and dismantled, one hundred
twelve events were held, and forty-six love couples were brought together. Tvorche Nezhit
continues to surprise its visitors, introducing them to what is still undervalued and unseen by
Kharkiv artists and inhabitants.
It is my believe that in the time when russia is committing genocide to annihilate Ukrainian
identity, it is vitally important to point out that Ukraine’s considerable source of strength is their
thriving culture. The artists and activists who remain active in Ukraine appreciate the enormous
emotional amplitude of war and show true urgency of it. I hope Regeneration Generation will serve
as a catalyst for redefining and decolonizing the knowledge we in Western Europe have about
Ukrainian culture.

https://www.druk.space/en/home