“Nearly every month, my little daughter and I would visit Boryslav, where my wife’s grandmother had lived her entire life. The incredible atmosphere of these lands interested me and made me delve deeper into its history. Among the classics of Ukrainian literature, you can find Ivan Franko’s novellas ‘Borislav Laughs’ and ‘Boa Constrictor.’ After revisiting these works, I felt compelled to share the story of Boryslav and its people, as well as my feelings and emotions. This is how ‘Horizons,’ my series of photographs, was born. It demonstrates the intricate relationships between people and nature while showcasing the contrasting historical facets of this city.Time has ruthlessly changed Boryslav’s face. Once a top-3 player in global oil production, it has now become a remote province living through the harsh consequences of industrial activity. This city led me to experiment with medium format photography to avoid any accidents and to slow down the process of creating a picture. I also took the time to become acquainted with the city and its residents — a place that had held little significance for me before my daughter’s birth. Today, Boryslav is intertwined with my family’s history and my daughter’s earliest memories.”
If Franko’s well-known work on Boryslav is grounded in naturalism and realism, Volodymyr Voznyy’s photographic series on this city doesn’t aim for strict documentation; instead, it’s a personal reflection on the locations and events that have happened there.
Volodymyr Voznyy was born and lives in Lviv. He works in the genres of portrait, documentary and conceptual photography. In his projects, he raises social topics in which he explores human identity, the formation of one’s character under the influence of historical and environmental factors. Volodymyr strives to find and offer a fresh, alternative perspective on things and events for a better understanding of oneself and one’s roots.