Photographer Oleksandr Chekmenyov at the Faces of Europe exhibition in Paris
The exhibition Faces of Europe (Visage(s) d’Europe) was opened in Paris on the occasion of Europe Day. The Ukrainian Institute provided the exhibition with works by Ukrainian photographer Oleksandr Chekmenev. Particularly, portraits from the series Citizens of Kyiv, taken during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Oleksandr is the author of the photobooks Donbas (2011), Passport (2017), Lilies (2020), and Ambulance (2021). In 2014, he received the Grand Prix “Photographer of the Year of Ukraine”. His works are held in private collections and collections of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, the Witten Museum, and the Ludwig Museum (Germany).
In 2022, a portrait of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy taken by Oleksandr for the cover of TIME magazine was sold for $150,000 at a charity auction held by Forbes Ukraine. These funds were used to purchase generators for 75 children’s facilities that suffered during the occupation by the Russian invaders.
In 2022, a portrait of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy taken by Oleksandr for the cover of TIME magazine was sold for $150,000 at a charity auction held by Forbes Ukraine. These funds were used to purchase generators for 75 children’s facilities that suffered during the occupation by the Russian invaders.
The Faces of Europe exhibition by EUNIC Paris brought together photographers to create a contemporary portrait of Europe. The focus is on the human aspect and everyday life.
The Ukrainian Institute became a partner in the project and coordinated the photographer’s participation in the exhibition. Oleksandr’s works are also currently on display in Liverpool as part of the HOME project.