If a Tree Falls in a Forest

(2022—ongoing)

If a Tree Falls in the Forest is a project that explores how observation and memory shape our understanding of events, particularly in the context of war and its aftermath. Inspired by the famous philosophical question, “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?”, this project examines how images serve both as evidence and as emotional constructs in the collective and personal processing of trauma.

By presenting these photographs, I question not only the role of photography in shaping historical memory but also the fragile relationship between reality and perception in times of crisis. I have captured portraits of young Ukrainians, mostly aged 16 to 40, who are facing both a global and personal crisis. Their experiences are reflected in photographs of liberated regions following the withdrawal of russian troops, fragments of a dictatorial past, and the challenges of forging a national identity.

I deliberately chose not to shoot in active war zones, instead focusing on safer areas. To some extent, these images function both as documentary evidence of crimes and as metaphorical reflections.

The war in Ukraine is still ongoing. It is not over, and its end remains uncertain. Against the backdrop of unfolding global political events, this project takes on even greater significance—as a reminder, a testimony, and a call not to turn away.

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Urban Studies