Odesa

Yelena Yemchuk was fascinated by the reputation of Odesa as a free place during Soviet times. She first visited in 2003 and returned in 2015 to photograph the city and its inhabitants. In 1981, her family immigrated to the United States, but ten years later, they were able to return to their home country.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2022
Publisher: GOST Books

Odesa, a city that exists outside of time, has always captivated Yelena Yemchuk. Growing up in Kyiv, she was fascinated by the city's reputation as a free place during the Soviet era. It was a place of contradictions, where acceptance coexisted with danger, and where outlaws and intellectuals mingled. Yemchuk first visited Odesa in 2003 and returned in 2015 to embark on a four-year project to photograph the city and its inhabitants. In 1981, at the age of eleven, Yemchuk's family immigrated to the United States from their home in Kyiv, Ukraine. They kept their plans to leave a secret, knowing that crossing the "Iron Curtain" at the time would mean they would never be able to return to their home country. Ten years later, when Ukraine declared its independence, Yemchuk was finally able to return to her homeland and visit Odesa.

The city had changed significantly since her childhood, but it still held a special place in her heart. Yemchuk's project aimed to capture the essence of Odesa and its people, both the traditional and the modern. She visited the city's historical landmarks, such as the Black Sea coast and the Potemkin Stairs, as well as its contemporary neighborhoods, where artists and entrepreneurs had set up shop. Through her photographs, Yemchuk hoped to convey the city's unique spirit and the stories of its inhabitants.

One of the things that struck Yemchuk the most during her visits to Odesa was the sense of community that she felt. The city was full of people from different backgrounds and cultures, but they all seemed to come together in a spirit of camaraderie and support. She met many locals who were passionate about their city and eager to share its history and culture with visitors. Yemchuk also noticed the city's resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges that it had faced, such as the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, Odesa remained a vibrant and dynamic place.

Yemchuk's project was not without its challenges. She faced bureaucratic hurdles and cultural barriers, and she had to navigate the complexities of photographing strangers in a foreign country. But she persevered, driven by her passion for the city and its people. In the end, Yemchuk's project was a success. Her photographs captured the spirit of Odesa and its people, and they have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.

Through her work, Yemchuk has helped to promote Odesa as a destination for tourists and a place of cultural significance. She has also raised awareness about the challenges that immigrants face and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Odesa, a city that exists outside of time, continues to captivate and inspire Yemchuk, and she hopes that her photographs will continue to convey its unique spirit to people around the world.

Dimension: 285 x 215 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781910401712