Life in Kyiv during wartime is a unique tale filled with a spectrum of emotions, from sorrow to joy. The photographs by Musheh Tsyronian capture this period, bringing people together through shared experiences and a common dream. They attest that war doesn’t halt life, and the residents of Kyiv affirm this with a resounding message: “A Life That Never Stopped.” What is life like in the capital of Ukraine during war? Find the answers to these and other questions in the exclusive interview with the author of this remarkable art book. A Pro Ukraine exclusive is below.
How did the idea to create such an art book come about?
From the onset of the invasion, I began closely monitoring the city, taking photographs. I’ll be honest, capturing anything was challenging. People were distressed and fearful, and anyone with a camera was considered suspicious. Somehow, I managed to navigate it all without any issues. At some point, towards the end of 2022, I realized that I had a substantial amount of great photo material. Even historical material that I thought of publishing in a small edition, maybe 100 copies, just to gift to friends. Then the idea struck me to feature some public heroes for an album. They are an integral part of our city. I immediately knew whom I wanted to see on the pages. My heroes are transparent individuals who provide significant support morally, physically, and financially.
Who are your heroes?
Oh, there are many of them! This book is unique in that it combines public figures and ordinary Ukrainians. From the very beginning of the full-scale invasion, the status of “celebrity” simply disappeared. We became equals because we were equally exposed to danger. This war united us. In the book, there’s a section with Dima MONATIK, and right after that, a section about a meat vendor from the market. Next to Katya Sinchenko are subway workers. Next to Yevhen Kolpotenko are maternity ward staff and surgeons. The book features the last professional photoshoot of Nina Mytrofanivna Matviienko.
The art book is already on sale, and I still can’t grasp that all these people participated in its creation. Because it’s not a commercial project; everything was done with my own funds. I simply offered them, and they agreed. First one hero, then another. Later, Andriy Danylko joined, whom I deeply respect. At a certain point, he became a mentor for Ukrainians, for Kyivans. He stayed in the city and openly expressed his pro-Ukrainian position. We didn’t have mutual friends or contacts. When I realized that I really wanted to invite him to the project, I started circling around the “Mama Music” office, where Andriy Mykhailovych works as a manager. At that time, writing a letter made no sense. I accidentally met him in a cafe. At that moment, I was so inspired that I could convince anyone. I simply asked him to convey this idea to Andriy Mykhailovych. And he agreed! It was an incredible experience.
And there’s also a section in the art book about my grandmother, Rita Rubenivna. There’s a portrait taken on February 27 when we went to look for bread. My grandmother is at an age where she sometimes forgets things. So, she often smiles. For example, she may forget that there’s a war… She’s always positive.
Tell me about the concept of the art book.
It’s a limited edition publication with a print run of 1000 copies. There won’t be any reprints. I personally assembled the book. The pages are not numbered. The idea was for people to sit in the evening, turn on dim light in the room, and start flipping through this book. This way, they could feel the atmosphere of Kyiv during the war.
All the photos in the book are black and white. This was intentional. The book is divided into three parts, three colors: black, white, and yellow. It’s the yellow, like the sun after 3 p.m. when you can start sunbathing. It’s the light that gives us hope for the future. We await the moment when life becomes colorful again. In reality, I didn’t just make a black and white book. It reflects the state of every Ukrainian. We smile, live, travel, but our lives are black and white because we can’t breathe freely. We can’t be fully happy. The food isn’t as tasty as it was before the war. So, of course, I dream of Victory and for peace to come to Ukraine.
The book is written in two languages, Ukrainian and English. Initially, we wanted to publish only in our native language due to the tendency of inferiority that has haunted Ukraine for so long. But we realized that we have stories to tell to everyone who wants to read them. And in English, it’s not just a translation. Two authors worked on the texts, each providing their own perspective. By the way, the authorial group consists of three people: two authors and my assistant, who shot the behind-the-scenes. He also took my portrait for the book. All these people are my friends who genuinely believed in my dream.
This book is a gift to our history. It’s a kind of manifesto of life because the book is about the desire to live. When rockets fly overhead, and a florist on Independence Square is gathering a bouquet. When such things happen, people don’t know what to do. At the same time, Ukrainian designer Katya Silchenko opens a new workshop and creates many jobs. That’s what this book is about. It’s about the fact that no one can stop us from living and being.
Why did you personally publish this book? I imagine many publishing houses would have been interested in it.
Initially, I did consider collaborating with a publishing house. However, I had no plans to profit from it. It was only when I started receiving exclusive materials from my heroes that I realized I would be publishing the book myself. Usually, publishing houses want subsidiary rights with the option to reprint. That’s unacceptable for me. The art book exists in a limited edition of 1000 copies, and there won’t be any reprints. That’s what makes it unique. Everyone who has already purchased or will purchase it will know they own an exclusive item that will be passed down to their children and grandchildren.
The cost of one art book is 3500 hryvnias. For some, it may seem like a lot, while others say it’s inexpensive. But it’s not about the money. I want to emphasize that with this book, we’ve enriched the libraries of the city of Kyiv and several nationwide libraries. We continue to work in this direction. So, anyone interested can go to the library, for example, Vernadsky Library or the National Historical Library, and read the book for free.
Are you already receiving feedback from readers?
I’m not expecting any awards or prizes. However, the feedback I’m currently receiving is truly touching. People send me long messages on social media, sharing their impressions and emotions after purchasing the book. So, the greatest reward is the gratitude from people. The immense gratitude to our defenders, it’s thanks to them that this book came to life.
I was at the Kurazh Bazar in Kyiv, where we had a booth presenting the art book. Many people approached me, but one girl struck me. I was talking about the book, and unexpectedly, she started crying heavily. She shared that her house was hit by an enemy missile, and her grandmother died there. Despite the tremendous pain of loss, familiar to all Ukrainians, we all continue to live and smile. The slogan of the art book is: “Life in the Ukrainian capital, changed but not broken by war.” I want Ukrainians to value their land even more, to appreciate what we already have, and to understand at what great cost we have to defend our property and the right to a happy life on our own land.
Do you plan to create a project called “Ukraine After Victory”?
It’s my most fervent desire, and I believe that such an art book will be in color. I dream of creating books about post-war Kyiv and post-war Ukraine. It will be a very challenging period for our country. But everything we do now and everything we will continue to do is for Ukraine! And about Ukraine. I’m ready to participate in anything that helps develop our country, in everything that contributes to its promotion in various cultural spheres around the world. I also dream that Ukraine will be talked about globally not only in the context of war. We deserve cultural attention. The main thing is for peace to come to our country because it will provide the opportunity to breathe freely and undertake and implement cool projects.
In general, I have many plans and projects. Currently, in collaboration, I am working on creating a book about Ukrainian theater. From ancient times to the present. How Ukrainian theater is evolving during the war.
The interview was conducted by Michelle Armand.
