video art "how are you"
2023 (two videos)

Being 5,000 miles away from the war, I have been working with displaced people for over a year
There are different ones - those who were preparing to go, those who did not plan but had the opportunity, those who lost everything and the world flashed before their eyes
The last one is not that many
but these are people who saw the war with their own eyes

From my observations, the first months they are very busy with settling basic needs - housing, documents, school, work
And only after that they begin to immerse themselves in this world
where the mentality is different
other values
other life positions and ...

At the same time, they hold on to Ukraine - there are relatives, friends, and acquaintances

The gap between the two worlds can be summed up in one phrase

"Hi! How are you?"

Indeed, this trite phrase that you hear dozens of times a day spans this great chasm
Because how can you be now?!
There is a war in your country, friends "on the front line" and news like prayer in the morning and in the evening
That's why this polite "I`m good, thank you" just causes an unimaginable dissonance in your head
Because they are not ready and not obliged to hear how you really feel
Because you should be polite

Our "Everything is fine", burned from the inside, melted with tears as soon as you find a safe place. Where there is no need to be polite
And it is very good if such a place exists at all
Because the majority scrambles to the last, pretending to be strong

This fragility and abnormal normality here, 5,000 miles from the war, is felt very acutely
because they have exhaled a little and are no bombings under their heads
in Ukraine, everyone still has everything stuck inside and everyone is holding on
or try to hold on

The video was presented at such events:

2023 - "Both Sides of the Border Face East" (Lviv, Ukraine)