On June 27, the world will see a special project: the charitable foundation “Dopomogator” together with photographer Stanislav Strilts will present a series of works “The Body Remembers”. The photos show Ukrainian servicemen who lost limbs in the war and started a new life. We tell you about the project's mission in the material of Vogue.ua.
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“I wanted so much to show the strength, courage, and dignity of male beauty beyond trauma. I was concerned that society often looks at veterans through loss, pain, and regret, because behind this gaze, sometimes the most important thing disappears — the person himself. His strength. His character. His inner light. It was important for me to change the focus of perception — both in Ukraine and abroad. To show Ukrainian defenders not as a symbol of tragedy, but as strong, beautiful, deep people who went through the war but did not lose themselves,” shares Olena Chernovolova, founder of the Dopomogator Charity Fund and the author of the idea for the Body Remembers project.
Founder of the Dopomogator Charity Fund Olena Chernovolova
At first, it was just a photo project that became the “Body Remembers” series when Olena, together with photographer Stanislav Strilts, noticed that the photographer's work had a therapeutic effect for the boys who had gone through the hell of war.
Stanislav's goal was to minimize the distance between the viewer and the veteran: “At first, I felt some hesitation, because the theme of the series is painful and uncomfortable, and besides, I didn't know whether I would be able to establish contact with the veterans based on trust and honesty,” he admits. However, during the first shooting, there was no room for doubt: “The intimate space of the studio and the contrasting, monochrome image allowed me to put the necessary emphasis on the emotions and worries of the series' characters. And the more I worked on the series, the more I became convinced that it was not so much about traumas, psychological and physical, but about the brightest sides of the human soul. About the ability to return and reveal one's potential,” the photographer explains.
The series of black-and-white portraits “The Body Remembers” invites society to a dialogue: about how life is divided into “before” and “after”; about people who rediscover themselves and their bodies; about what endurance really is; about the quiet heroism of daily victories over obstacles that are invisible to the outside eye.
“Today, I see how our project is finding a response far beyond Ukraine. After international meetings, in particular in Brussels, people from different countries began to contact me who share this idea: human dignity does not disappear after trauma. They are open to supporting us to spread the word in the world. Art in this sense can speak louder than any political statements. That is why for me this project is part of Ukraine's cultural diplomacy. This is our way of reminding the world: behind every war story there is a living person who deserves not only support, but also sincere admiration,” says Olena.
The exhibition will feature photographs of over 20 Ukrainian veterans who, despite severe injuries, continue to live and believe in the best. In Kyiv, the presentation of the project will take place on June 27 in the “Kyiv Rose” space, and anyone interested will be able to see the series of photographs for two weeks.
Next, we invite you to meet several participants of the “Body Remembers” project, who have the strength to smile even after everything they have experienced.
Oleg Simoroz
Volunteer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, participant in the Ukrainian-Russian war, human rights activist, public and political figure.
You can lose a part of your body, but it is very important to keep your spirit.
Stanislav Shumsky
Veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
We all have the same dream! I really want my brothers and sisters to return to their families, to their homes. For our children to live happily, without worries.
Oleksiy Prytula
Veterinarian. Veteran of the War of Independence.
I don't see any particular strength in myself. But I see it in others and that inspires me. I say the same thing about courage.
Yevgeny “Tages” Kollontaevsky
For me, courage is the ability to stand your ground in any situation, always tell the truth, and face problems head-on, rather than avoiding them.
Vladyslav “Mazai” Ryzhoi
My only dream, while the war continues, is for everyone to return to their families, for peace to come, and for me to be able to visit all my fallen friends who gave their lives for Ukraine's independence.
Viktor “Kuznets” Bogoyavlensky
Active military serviceman, veteran, head of the Uman Veterans Corps.
Strength is not about the absence of fear. It's about the ability to keep your word, take responsibility for your people, and get back up after moments when you should have been written off.
About the “Dopomogator” Charitable Foundation
The “Dopomogator” charitable foundation was established in 2017. It was born from the idea of helping low-income families and the elderly. In 2023, a new phase of the foundation's development began, which was aimed at providing assistance with prosthetics and rehabilitation for military and civilian personnel.