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We see Ukraine

AN EXHIBITION ABOUT THE FUEL TO GO ON

Mykhaylo Barabash

Potato talks

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Mykhaylo Barabash
Lviv, Ukraine
Website
mykhaylo-barabash

Reflections

Since 2014, I have been working on various topics related to the developments in the East and South of Ukraine. The range of themes is broad. They include the impact of culture on each of us, co-existence with the war, attitudes to the war, and aspirations for peace. But mostly they are about my attitudes to those events, and my reflections and feelings about the pain of loss, loss of life, loss of home, or loss of land and other things.

Since the very beginning of russia’s aggression against Ukraine, I have been asking myself questions – whether it was easy to claim another person’s life; or what you are supposed to feel about that person in order to do it; or what the repercussions of this act are; and whether I am actually capable of commiting it. However, all of this changed after this war started. We were engulfed in horrible events, in the abominable scenes of murder, terror, when the occupiers destroyed homes, theaters, museums, and other places.

Some of my views on life and death have changed, too. My readiness to take up arms has transformed. Nevertheless, I still cannot know how easy it would be for me to claim another person’s life, and how that could affect me. I don’t feel like thinking about it, although I am trying to harden myself to the fact.

But in any case, I can avoid such experiences as I lecture at Art Academy, and professors can enjoy military draft deferment. Reflecting on how to live on, I relied on the idea of meditation, or rather on meditative monotonous work. According to various spiritual practices, it might save you from stress and anxiety, and help regulate your internal state. One monotonous activity of this kind is peeling potatoes.

Idea

The potato is one of the most significant and most widespread agricultural plants and staple foods. Besides, it is one of my favorite kinds of food that can be used for many dishes. In fact, the potato is even called “the other bread.”

The potato became a staple food during the many years of wars in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Because it was so easy to grow, it helped save many people in different continents from starvation. Its path started from noble plant used as a decoration in elite gardens down to revolutionaries’ supplies – the daily food for workers, craftsmen, and peasants. The Ukrainian language has about 10 names for it, or more than 20 in various dialects. One of its major pests is the Colorado beetle or potato bug, with a black and orange coat pattern.

In my family, we have grown potatos since I can remember. We would plant different sorts that we changed depending on taste and degeneration properties. As long as I can remember, at different times we would plant the Slovyanka (we pronounced it “Slavianka”), Synyovichka (used to say “Sineglazka”), Temp, Zarevo, Olvia, Nevska, and most recently “Belaroza” (“Bella Rosa”).

So, that was what I settled upon – the mundane everyday activity of cooking. That’s something you need to do whatever the circumstances. At the same time, it could be a meditative process when you can think about yourself, about important things, recall interesting episodes from the past, or dream about the future.

After all, for Ukraine it is rather a rare situation for a man to prepare meals everyday, and stay at home, in his kitchen, rather than be at war in a military uniform (this must be the picture that us, Ukrainians, would like to see).

Mykhaylo Barabash is an interdisciplinary artist, curator and teacher of the Lviv National Academy of Art, Department of Contemporary Art Practices. In his practice he has worked with various types of media, such as video art, installations, performance art, site-specific art, graphic art.

Since 2014, the war in Ukraine has been a major focus of Barabash’s work. For the most part, his projects have multiple components, and often include graphics and video tools. He likes to work with a exhibition spaces built up from opposing elements, such as plane – space; moment – time; statics – dynamics; image – movement.

Potato Talks | The Narrators

  • NICK

    Age: 41

    Place of birth: Dnipro, Ukraine

    I love cooking and enjoying some delicious meals; I love creativity, and I believe in people.

    Currently, I live in Przemysl (Poland) where I relocated after the start of russia’s full-out aggression against Ukraine.

  • KOSTIANTYN

    Age: 42

    Place of birth: Kharkiv, Ukraine

    When I started my career of a hydrogeologist in 2003, I joined the acting studio at the Kharkiv theater “Publicist.” The experience drastically changed my life. In the following years, any major activity of my life was always accompanied by theater until it became a permanent professional occupation and a favorite job to do.

    As a theater director, I try to combine poetic and political theater.

  • OLEKSANDR

    Age: 31

    Place of birth: Ternopil, Ukraine

    I am a historian and an archivist. I live in Lviv. I do bicycle racing. In 2022-2023 I worked as a volunteer in the “Kitchen” team we made food and helped the internally displaced people.

  • ZORYAN

    Age: 93

    Place of birth: Lviv, Ukraine

    Retired. I have been living in America for 17 years. I love to read. I eat in often and in little bits. I’ve travelled a lot and have beet to all corners of the World. I don’t hold heavy things in my head and hands.

  • ANTIN

    Age: 54

    Place of birth: Lviv, Ukraine

    I have worked in civil service for more than 20 years, half of them in managerial positions. With russia's attack on Ukraine, I went to the front (2014-2015). After the end of the active phase of the war, returned to public service. In February 2022, I returned to the front. Demobilized in February 2023. I have a daughter and two sons. My middle son is also at the front from February 2023.

    I like to travel. Before the war, I used to go the mountains often with my children. I like to fish. I like to cook for myself, for my family, for my friends. Maybe one day I will open my own YouTube channel about cooking delicious food.

  • LUKA–YURII

    Age: 20

    Place of birth: Lviv, Ukraine

    I live in Lviv. I like to cook. Graduated the Lviv Academy of Fine Arts. I’m not apart of any organizations. I donate money for drones to the Sternenko fund.

  • OREST

    Age: 72

    Place of birth: Lviv, Ukraine

    I’ve been retired for 12 years now. I watch the world and wonder. I live in the countryside, in nature. I like to make crafts. I am not picky about food, but I like to eat well. I help the Armed forces of Ukraine in any way I can.

  • YURKO

    Age: 41

    Place of birth: Pechenizhin, Kolomyia, Ivano–Frankivsk Province, Ukraine

    I am the project manager of the public organization YMCA Lviv, which is engaged in volunteer, educational and artistic activities. I’m also the manager of the Myth Opera "Ukraine – Terra Incognita" and the documentary film "Vypchyna. The village of one day". Once worked as press secretary and festival coordinator of the Dzyga Art Association.

    Fought in the Right Sector Military Academy and the 80th I am a project manager of the public organization YMCA Lviv, which is engaged in volunteer, educational and artistic activities.

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