Above: At the Pototski Palace in Lviv.
Six artists were chosen to participate in the 2018-2019 Canadian Forces Artist Program (CFAP). I found out this past summer that I would be joined by another artist and that we would be embedded with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in Ukraine at the same time. At first I felt a little disappointed because I was hoping that this opportunity to merge my military experience with my art practise would be a solo journey. I imagined that having another artist there would take away from the relationships I hoped to build with the soldiers while embedded. I knew this was a selfish thought so I chose to embrace the fact that there would be two of us and in the end, it was the best situation and we both benefitted by having one another.
Above: In the field with the tankers and eating rations as we sit and wait.
A few weeks prior to leaving, Olivia Rozema and I started talking via instagram chat about the trip and about what to expect while embedded. We ran questions by each another about what to pack, our flight options, and logistics like “how much access will have to electric outlets to charge our batteries?." These little check ins with each other gave me comfort in knowing that I would have someone to work through these things with.
Additionally, we both planned to stay in country and travel following our commitment with the military. We are both very independent travelers and made that clear, but agreed that it would be nice to split the cost of Air BnB’s and to have someone to enjoy dinner with in the evenings. Turns out we got along just fine and ended up doing everything together.
I arrived in Lviv first and Olivia a couple hours after. Her first words were, “I swear I am not an idiot but I left my cell phone on the plane.” I knew right there that we would get along just fine. The PAO and two infantry NCM’s were there to meet and escort us to the Yavoriv training base. Once settled into our sleeping quarters (in a large open room between make shift plywood walls and a curtain for a door), Olivia and I chatted briefly about our project proposals and goals. We were both relieved and agreed that neither of us were assholes and that this would be an incredible experience.
The beautiful thing about having a co pilot on any mission is that you take care of one another. I made an incredible friend and her perspective and knowledge had a profound impact on how I developed relationships with the soldiers and helped shape the information and research that I gathered. Olivia had no military experience prior to Ukraine. She noticed details of military experience that I had taken for granted or what seemed to be normal of banal activities or behavior that I had experienced during my time in the CAF. She also asked questions that I didn’t and vice versa. These answers filled gaps in my source material and allowed me to reflect and analyze through a different perspective.
Olivia was interested in the individual expressions of humanity within a homogenous institution, where everyone dresses the same, eats the same, has the same orders, and working for the same goal. Olivia wrote in a recent instagram post, “I was particularly interested in those things that seem relatively insignificant to the broader context of the conflict in Ukraine. I spent a lot of time thinking about the things that people make, carry with them, of how they decorate their space. These little things are expressions of humanity and individuality in an institution that emphasizes group homogeny. Even in environments born of conflict and hostility you can find profound moments of humor, creativity, and positive self expression. I think these moments are beautiful and should be celebrated.”
Her project intentions made me think about my own personal expressions of humanity when I was in the military; the things I carried, the shared stories between soldiers that were filled with dark humor to bring light to shitty situations, and the creativity and self expression that rises through it all. I have always been aware of these sentimental objects, be it a book, a letter from home, a key, a teddy bear, or a coffee mug. Though I had never purposely examined them on their own.
At the end of each day we had a little debrief of that days activities over dinner and made a mental list of objectives for the next day. These conversations were instrumental in adapting and gathering source material.
Above: We spent a lot of time at cafe’s and restaurants between museums, galleries, and wandering endless streets. I edited these with a KAWAII app!
From Yavoriv training base to our Air BnB in Lviv, we slid seamlessly into our travels through Ukraine. We spent five days in Lviv, five days in Kiev, and four days together in Odessa. On December 23rd Olivia flew home to Canada for Christmas and I stayed for another week and travelled to Nikopol, Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and back to Kiev for a couple days before flying home for New Years Eve.
Having a friend to dig into discussions on philosophy, education, religion, art, war, and whatever else came up, was unexpected and wonderful. I am so grateful that I had a partner to share these experiences with.
I have included some images below of Olivia and I. And I should note that Olivia is not one for selfies and pics of herself but she travelled with me and that meant she had no choice.
Above: Taken post a lot of vodka in an underground bunker in Lviv!
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