Lilies by Alexander Chekmenev
A collection of photographs by Ukrainian photographer Oleksandara Chekhmenyova.
Oleksandara Chekhmenyova shot this film at the Ovruch Psychiatric Hospital in Ukraine in 1999. The project has become a classic in Ukrainian photography and is considered an important humanizing project of people outside the "norm." The 100 black-and-white photographs were later donated to the hospital.
"1999, Ukrainian psychiatric clinic. On my first trip, I shot a report on the lives of patients and medical staff. I shot more than 20 rolls of color 35mm film. I spent the night in the same building where the patients lived, but in a different ward. In the morning, I was surprised to see how similar we were - patients, servicemen, and us. Everyone was equal in the department. The nurse, who didn't wear a white coat, was unashamed and wasn't surprised when I mistook him for a madman. In the morning, I photographed the uncomprehending patients again with the latest automatic electronic camera. Suddenly, an artificial flower was placed on the refrigerator, and I immediately understood what the series should be. I took out an old mechanical Rolleiflex and black and white film from my bag. I sat each patient by the window, handed them a bouquet of artificial white lilies and asked them to "smile please." Not all patients can smile. But I tried to make everyone laugh. Even the most difficult patients wanted to receive a bouquet and look at the camera. "These people need very little things: a candy, a pack of cigarettes, the same flowers, or at least our smile. They meet every new person like children meet their parents after a long time. They remain children who will never grow up. They are waiting for our attention. They have no scheming, no envy, they cannot betray or deceive. They are almost the same as us, only better." - Oleksandara Chekhmenyova
First edition limited to 500 copies.
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Title: Lilies
Artist: Alexander Chekmenev
MOKSOP, 2020
Hardcover, two blocks
200 x 240 mm
64 pages/56 pages
Text in Ukraine and English
First edition of 500 copies + 50 special editions
ISBN: 978-3-947922-04-8
¥6,820 -
