In 2024, in the heart of Lviv, restoration works challenged the realities of war, focusing on preserving cultural heritage. A Polish-Ukrainian team of restorers undertook the conservation about the eastern wing of the attic that crowns the Benedictine Monastery tower, and the Baroque tower in Novosilky. Despite challenging conditions and constant threats, their work became more than just restoration – it became a symbol of unity and resilience.
Photo documentation of this process was carried out on an analog camera using black and white film, which gave the project a unique character. The photographer, using traditional film developing methods, created a series of images that not only convey the atmosphere of the restorers’ work, but also reflect the complexity of their mission to protect the heritage. This approach towards the documentation echoes the very essence of restoration – the art of preserving authenticity combined with the need for restoration.
In the current circumstances, when war threatens monuments and cultural identity, these efforts take on particular significance. Each restored fragment of the attic, each detail saved from destruction, is an expression of concern for historical continuity and resistance to oblivion.
The photographs that emerged from this project are not only documentary evidence of the process – they serve as a tribute to the work of the restorers, the silent guardians of the heritage. Despite all the difficulties, they do continue to protect our shared memory from destruction.
Natalia Jastrzębska is the author of the project, a volunteer, Polish photographer and cinematographer (known for her work on the film “The Indistinct Clatter of Birds” about Włodzimierz Puchalski, to whom we dedicated one of our previous exhibitions).