Irpin Chronicles of revival: Online premiere
What is it like to be in an occupied city? What is it like to plant a vegetable garden under fire? What is it like to look at your house, shop, church in the news about objects destroyed by the enemy? What is it like to bring yourself and your city back to life while the war continues?
Video notes from Irpen will be open for viewing from November 22 at 8:00 p.m. and will remain freely available on the artpolechannel YouTube channel until November 29.
Documenting the memories of the people of Irpin is proof of Russia’s war crimes
Irpin, like neighboring Bucha and Gostomel, became one of Kyiv’s outposts, where heavy fighting took place from February 24. One part of the town was occupied, the other was badly damaged, and the Russians raided it every day. Irpin was the first to be released – on March 28.
In video notes, local residents share their wishes for the future appearance of the city, tell how it looked in the past, what flowers they like, what plants and smells are associated with a peaceful life.
Interaction with plants provided an opportunity to distract from the terrible memories of March. Evaluating the areas of the soil in terms of moisture and sunlight, so that the bushes and flowers would take root, the residents of Irpin thought about their future and that of their city. Some of those with whom I had the opportunity to communicate did not leave the city in March. Some left briefly – under fire, after their houses were destroyed. Someone was lucky enough to leave early. Someone has not lived in Irpen for a long time, but considers it his family.
Irpin was the first to be released – on March 28
In video notes, local residents share their wishes for the future appearance of the city
A series of interviews with local residents was recorded by media artist Olya Mykhailiuk. This work is part of the project “Irpin Chronicles of revival“, which is implemented with the support of the European Union. The initiative also included the improvement of city locations affected by shelling.
How the initiative “ Irpin. Chronicles of revival”
Communicating with the residents of Irpen has become as integral a part of trips to the city as providing humanitarian aid and planting plants.
“In the spring, we worked at the humanitarian headquarters, delivering aid to various towns in the Kyiv region, including Irpen. After the liberation of the city, they decided to visit here in order to better understand what kind of help is relevant now. Our project started with an acquaintance with one of the natives — Leonid. The house that Leonid built himself burned down before his eyes, but miraculously a pepper seedling survived, and he planted it. This attachment to the land, the desire to take care of it, of one’s city, are feelings that arise in conversations with many residents of Irpin. Although the heroes of my interviews do not like the word “ hero “ , everyone says that they were just doing their job, but they are the heroes. Thanks to them, we did not lose Irpin, Kyiv, Ukraine,“ says the media artist Olya Mykhailiuk.
