An exhibition by Alena Grom
Ukraine

© Alena Grom

Exhibition Curator: Igor Manko, Roberto Muffoletto

>> The photographer's work may be accessed through the menu on the left.

VASA Exhibitions is presenting "Mavky. Camouflage" by Alena Grom as part of VASA Witness.

The project “Mavky. Camouflage’ explores the resilience and transformation of Ukrainian women during the war.

Its heroines are real women from the village of Horenka in the Bucha District, which was on the front line in March 2022 and suffered severe destruction   77% of its buildings were damaged. Despite the trauma and losses, the women united into a volunteer group called “Horenski Mavky”, weaving camouflage nets and ghillie suits for soldiers at the front.

These women of different ages, professions, and life stories  became symbols of solidarity and quiet strength. Even during blackouts and shelling, they continued to weave by candlelight, believing that their work protects and saves lives. Camouflage, woven with love and faith, became a modern equivalent of the traditional Ukrainian embroidery a symbol of unity and protection. 

>> Each photographer's work may be viewed through the menu to the left.

© Alena Grom

On VASA Exhibitions:

VASA, since 2008, has provided an international platform for individual and group exhibitions, collaborative exhibitions with various organizations and galleries and exhibitions that follow a particular theme or inquiry such as “Where Do We Go Now” curated by Rui Cepeda and the “Kharkiv School of Photography: Soviet Censorship to New Aesthetics” curated by Igor Manko and "Why??" curated by Sandeep Biswas.

VASA Exhibitions are international and multicultural.  The curatorial team has strived to present work that not only represents the photographers but also the social, historical and cultural.  As an online international project, VASA works to engage various digital tools.  Video, as an example, not only offers the potential for the presentation of works, it provides the opportunity and framework for the voice of the author to be seen and heard.   Through image, text, sound and animation, VASA works to expand the exhibition paradigm and provide a rich experience for the viewer (as well as the author).

VASA Exhibitions provides a viewing and research environment by archiving all of the exhibitions in their entirety. For example, the viewer may view a 2009 exhibition as it was presented and not just traces of its existence.

VASA Exhibitions (a program in VASA) includes images, videos and sound works.