Shift: Ukraine in Crisis

SATURDAY MAY 3 – SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2014

Opening Night: Friday May 2

Monday May 26 – Monday June 1: ‘Shift’ curation event

On November 24, 2013, approximately 100,000 civilians joined together in Kiev’s Independence Square (locally known as Maidan), to protest against the Ukrainian government’s decision to reject a proposed political and trade accord with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia. A few days later, riot police began to beat the demonstrators. New anti-protest laws were imposed and the demonstrators prepared to defend themselves with force. Violence escalated in December, January and February and the first demonstrators were killed. The government resigned and elections were called for May 2014. In March, a ‘referendum’ encouraged by the Russian government was held in Crimea: the majority of voters backed the region joining Russia and leaving Ukraine. Ukraine is in crisis: the people have protested, a president has tumbled and borders have been disputed and breached. The political fabric and cultural identity of a nation have been questioned, challenged and continue to be disrupted.

The exhibition opens May 2, and between May 26 and June 1, the show itself will ‘shift’ and ‘change’, responding to the situation on the ground following the presidential elections on May 25. Images will be moved, and new ones will be brought in to the gallery space in a dynamic curatorial event unique to Third Floor Gallery.

Exhibiting photographers: Alexander Chekmenev (Ukraine), Maxim Dondyuk (Ukraine), Corentin Fohlen (France), Louisa Gouliamaki (Poland), Brendan Hoffman (USA), Tom Jamieson (UK), Marco Kesseler (UK), Anastasia Taylor-Lind (UK/ Sweden), Donald Weber (USA), Emine Ziyatdinova (Ukraine)