David Denil, LET US NOT FALL ASLEEP WHILE WALKING

Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after which it declared itself a neutral state. In 2013, protests broke out in downtown Kiev after president Yanukovych’s govern- ment decided to suspend the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement and at the same time strengthen the economic ties with Russia. Months of demonstrations and protests known as The Euromaidan, escalated into the 2014 Ukrainian revolution which ultimately resulted in the over- throwing of Yanukovych and the establishment of a new government. These events preceded both the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014 and the still ongoing War in Donbass.

In collaboration with the citizens of Kiev, ‘Let Us Not Fall Asleep While Walking’ shapes their experience into metaphorical depictions where time seems frozen but dreams of hope still linger. The series, which consists of 137 photos to match the death toll of the Euromaidan riots, is an attempt to capture the repercussions of this period for Ukrainian citizens.

The project won several international rewards including the Alexia Award of Excellence, the Center Project Development Award, the Lens Culture Emerging Talent Award, the IPOTY International Documentary photographer of the year and was selected by PDN’s as one of the new and emerging photographers to watch.

This project comes in a book and is published by Dewi Lewis Publishing in May 2019. You can order a copy directly from the website.

Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after which it declared itself a neutral state. In 2013, protests broke out in downtown Kiev after president Yanukovych’s govern- ment decided to suspend the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement and at the same time strengthen the economic ties with Russia. Months of demonstrations and protests known as The Euromaidan, escalated into the 2014 Ukrainian revolution which ultimately resulted in the over- throwing of Yanukovych and the establishment of a new government. These events preceded both the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014 and the still ongoing War in Donbass.

In collaboration with the citizens of Kiev, ‘Let Us Not Fall Asleep While Walking’ shapes their experience into metaphorical depictions where time seems frozen but dreams of hope still linger. The series, which consists of 137 photos to match the death toll of the Euromaidan riots, is an attempt to capture the repercussions of this period for Ukrainian citizens.

The project won several international rewards including the Alexia Award of Excellence, the Center Project Development Award, the Lens Culture Emerging Talent Award, the IPOTY International Documentary photographer of the year and was selected by PDN’s as one of the new and emerging photographers to watch.

This project comes in a book and is published by Dewi Lewis Publishing in May 2019. You can order a copy directly from the website.