Yana Kononova

Yana Kononova presents the series Desperation of Landscape, which investigates the traces left on the environment by the Russia-Ukraine war within technical and geographical contexts. The work expresses the destruction caused by the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam and the war through photography and collage, examining how the catastrophic scenes are imprinted on landscapes and human emotions across geological, industrial, and emotional layers. The grotesquely transformed landscapes and man-made structures evoke a tense atmosphere that recalls the wounds of war while resonating with the present sense of chaos we experience. This work shakes the numbness of the current moment, serving as a powerful reminder to rethink existence, community, historical memory, and the potential for the future. Furthermore, the despair of the people crossing the land seeps into the landscape, creating a dystopian atmosphere. The energy born of human greed permeates not only the photographed figures but also the landscapes as a whole, conveying a threatening feeling to the viewer. This warns that the current situation is far from safe and strongly urges a renewed reflection on the essence of existence and the foundations of communal values.