The swans raised on the crumbs of a golden loaf

In my project, I reflect on corruption in Ukraine. The swans made of gold symbolize the corrupt regime of politician and former president Viktor Yanukovych, which echoes the war.

"Mezhyhirya" is the former residence of Viktor Yanukovych, the notorious politician and the fourth president of Ukraine. From 1935 to 2007, "Mezhyhirya" was a governmental residence until Yanukovych transferred it to private ownership through obscure schemes.

In 2014, after the events of Maidan and Yanukovich's flight, the general public could get behind the 5-meter fence and see in all its glory both the territory itself and houses. On the territory of the 140-hectare complex, all imaginable and unimaginable objects are located: yacht pier, restaurant-ship, equestrian club, shooting range, tennis court, golf course, Zoo, dovecote, as well as hunting grounds. The interior furnishings of the houses themselves could rival any imaginary palace. One of the essential attributes is the life-size loaf made of pure gold. "Mezhyhirya" became not only a symbol of presidential corruption but also an existing museum. Anyone with a ticket is free to enter.

In my project, I reflect on corruption in Ukraine, which echoes the ongoing war. As Viktor Yanukovich was a protégé of the Russian political regime, he made many decisions that played against the pro-Western or independent development vector of Ukraine.

In this series of works, you can watch immense territories of the "Mezhyhirya" and swans raised on the crumbs of a golden loaf.

Medium: black-and-white photography, imitation metal leaf