Marta SYRKO: Sculpture Soldiers
photo exhibition
April 18–May 26, 2024
Blinken OSA Archivum, Galeria Centralis
Ukrainian photographer Marta Syrko’s series Soldier Sculptures is an artistic record of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Through sensitive depictions of vulnerable bodies and the human stories behind the wounds, she sheds light on the resilience and strength of soldiers, while encouraging
viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of loss and how it shapes their understanding of the world. The series was on view for a short time at the Három Hét Galéria as part of the Budapest Photo Festival.
Organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary and Blinken OSA Archivum, the material is now on view again at the Galeria Centralis from April 18 to May 26.
The exhibition will be introduced by a roundtable discussion entitled Quo Vadis Ukraine? Two Years of War and Perspectives for the Future on April 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
Participants in the discussion:
• András Rácz, Russia expert, senior expert of the German Foreign Policy Association,
Master Lecturer at the Corvinus Institute for Global Studies
• Csilla Fedinec, Senior Research Fellow at the HUN-REN Center for Social Sciences, expert on Ukraine
• István Balog, Temporary Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary
The discussion will be moderated by Szabolcs Vörös, a journalist covering the Russian-Ukrainian war, and co-founder of the Válasz Online portal.
The program is in Hungarian.
About the Artist:
Marta Syrko (1995) is a Ukrainian fine art photographer and art director, whose works are visually stunning and thought-provoking.
Sculpture Soldiers is Marta’s most significant humanitarian project, on which she has been working since Russia’s full-scale attack on her home country. It depicts Ukrainian soldiers who were injured in the ongoing Russian war.
Marta’s art focuses on capturing the beauty and grace of the human form, reminiscent of ancient Greek sculptures. By emphasizing the tenderness and delicacy of the wounded bodies, Marta encourages us to perceive them not as imperfect or flawed but as objects of beauty and wonder.
Through her work, Marta poses thought-provoking questions: How does losing a limb or enduring physical trauma change a person's outlook on life? How do these changes affect their relationships and interactions with others? How do they adjust to their new reality and discover meaning in their lives? By engaging with these questions and chronicling the soldiers’ journeys, Marta highlights their resilience and strength while encouraging viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of loss and how it shapes their understanding of the world.
As a Ukrainian artist, Marta is using her voice and her art to shine a light on the situation in Ukraine and to raise awareness of the turmoil taking place in her home country.
Marta Syrko’s art serves as a powerful reminder of the stark reality of war waging in the heart of Europe and the toll it exacts on individuals and society as a whole, encouraging others to pay attention to the struggles of the Ukrainian people, drawing attention to the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by Ukrainian militaries to protect their homeland and the whole of Europe and calling on the whole civilized world to support Ukraine to put an end to this cruel, unprovoked war of aggression.