Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre
Blackout
art book / 2023
Courtesy of
Olena Afanasieva and Max Afanasiev are among the founders of the legendary Ukrainian contemporary art group Totem. The spouses often work in tandem. Many of their projects focus on their home region of Kherson: its history, society, politics, and everyday life. During the city's occupation, the Afanasievs managed to travel west of the country and help evacuate other residents. They now temporarily reside in Uzhhorod and continue to work in the Kherson context.
The Blackout art book was created in 2022 when Ukraine was left without electricity after the Russian attacks. This work was a gesture of mutual support and unity in difficult circumstances. To collect the stories, Olena Afanasieva called and corresponded with her friends, asking the question that was so important during the war: "How are you?" The art book consists of an author's introduction and 14 stories by cultural figures from different parts of the country about how they experienced the blackout. All the stories are accompanied by redrawn and edited photographs accidentally found in a photo album purchased at a flea market. Each time Afanasiev redrew the photographs with ink, he turned the artistic process into a daily routine that provided a sense of control and stability in the unpredictable present. The practice of artbooking itself is usually a very intimate process. However, in this case, the artists use the art book as a space for communication and work. They create a collective rather than individualistic practice, thus showing that safety can be made through joint, collective efforts.