Fry, Stone, Prince Harry Guest Curate Ukraine Photo Show

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Sir Stephen Fry, Sharon Stone, Prince Harry, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk are among the public figures serving as guest curators for“Postcode Ukraine: Diary of a Volunteer.” The exhibition, which opens on September 11 at Westwood Contemporary in Los Angeles, is a fundraising show featuring photographs by British, Kyiv-based artist Mark Neville.

Neville's work documents daily life in Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion, focusing on volunteers, families, and communities impacted by the war. Each guest curator selected a photograph from the exhibition and provided a brief reflection on its personal significance. The group also includes actress Alyssa Milano, Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, author Kateryna Babkina, and Wende Museum founder Justin Jampol.

Matviichuk, who leads Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, stated that her chosen image highlights the individuals often obscured by war statistics.“War turns people into numbers, but behind every number is a name, a face and a life that matters,” she said.“Neville's photographs restore this human dimension, showing ordinary Ukrainians who, in extraordinary circumstances, continue to help others, protect their communities and defend human dignity.”

Hollywood actress Stone emphasized the project's role in showcasing creative expression during crises. She noted,“It's an honor and a privilege to hold space for those whose need to speak is so dire, particularly in a time when the need to listen is at its most crucial.”

Neville, who also co-founded Postcode Ukraine, a Kyiv -based charity supporting war-affected communities, has been working in the country since the start of the invasion. He stated,“Ukrainians' lives are often defined by conflict, but these photos tell a more nuanced story: one of strength, endurance and hope.” He added that the project aims to document“what people refuse to surrender: family, friendship, creativity, joy, and a sense of normal life.”

Proceeds from“Postcode Ukraine: Diary of a Volunteer” will support the charity's grassroots humanitarian efforts. Since 2022, the organization has funded over $500,000 in local aid projects, including food, water, generators, and emergency assistance for communities affected by the conflict.

Milano noted the exhibition's goal to maintain focus on the civilian experience of the conflict. She remarked,“Nearly five years in, it is easy to lose sight of the resilience it takes to keep living through it.” The exhibition is presented at Westwood Contemporary in collaboration with The Wende Museum, a Los Angeles institution dedicated to preserving and interpreting Cold War history.

Jampol explained that Neville's photographs provide a record of the war as it unfolds. He said,“Museums often help us understand history after the fact. Neville's photographs ask us to confront it while it is still unfolding.”

Source: ARTnews

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