Since Russia escalated its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it has destroyed over 1,000 schools, 200,000 homes, and 300 cultural institutions. At least 2,406 children have been killed or injured and 102 cultural artists have been killed, and more than 19,000 children abducted to sever their Ukrainian identities.
This project, DIA/spora, does not show images of war. Instead, it focuses on quiet, yet active resistance (дія = action): Ukrainian youth in New York’s diaspora celebrating identity through tradition. They gather to honor Taras Shevchenko’s legacy, wear Vyshyvankas, and rehearse regional folk dances passed down through generations. These images affirm that Ukrainian culture endures far beyond the country’s borders.
In a time of genocidal violence, the act of cultural expression becomes defiant. DIA/spora also reminds the audience that the beauty seen here is precisely what’s under attack in Ukraine.
