SNOEK, Otto - Ukranian Crossroads

Background information

"Otto SNOEK visited eastern Ukraine for the first time in 1989. In twelve months, spread over six trips between 1989 and 1992, he photographed Ukrainian cities and the country during the last years of communism. Otto SNOEK's trip to Ukraine at such a young age is comparable to the first trips of Dutch predecessors such as Johan VAN DER KEUKEN (1938-2001) and Peter MARTENS (1937-1992).

Content

Ukrainian Crossroads' by Otto SNOEK reveals the open gaze of a young man who can only hold back his amazement and curiosity with his camera. The color photographs show the Ukrainians in their social distress, but as a proud nation that courageously surrenders to its fate. From his photographs one can see that he does not cynically observe from a distance, but stands in the middle of the people, even if he does not speak their language. This means that in photographs by Otto SNOEK different things happen at the same time. They form a summary of what happens in these places. It seems as if all extras in his photos play a personal role in a play without a director. Otto SNOEK captures this in an incomparable personal style". (free translation of the English language publisher's text)

About the photographer, Otto SNOEK (b. 1966)

Photo books by Otto SNOEK