Andriy Boyko: Photographies 2014-2021

After the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine experienced a boom in rave culture. Empowered by the energy of change and shocked by the war in the East of Ukraine in 2014, the youth was searching for their own identity and new ways of expressing themselves. Kyiv became the European capital of techno parties, attracting musicians and ravers from Berlin, Amsterdam, and other cities. The outbreak of freshly emerged creativity went far beyond these gatherings. New names and personalities were appearing in fashion, design, photography, film, and other fields. Young people were inventing a new visual language, pushing the boundaries of what was generally accepted, and in doing so, subconsciously and instinctively created an important layer of culture based on freedom and equality.

2018, Workshops on Andriushchenko Street, Kyiv, on the photo one can see Artur Snitkus (currently fighting in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, call sign “Snickers”)

2018, Vernissage/Beer of Podil, Kyiv, on the photo one can see artists Zhanna Kadyrova and Ksenia Hnylytska discussing the exhibition plans

2016, Rave «Схема» under the Havanskyi Bridge, Kyiv, on the photo one can see skater Ananas who injured his head while skateboarding

2021, СРЗ-2 (Ship-repair plant-2), Odesa, on the photo one can see artist Oksana AntiGonna spanking with a whip artist Nikita Kadan on the Black Sea coast

2015, Kharkiv, on the photo one can see artist Olya Lisovska posing on the garbage can

2015, Sumy, Garagepotting (club), one can see dancer Daria Sova posing on a punching bag

2021, rave on Bankova Street in front of the President Zelenskyy administration in Kyiv

Andriy Boyko is a Ukrainian photographer, videographer, documentarian. Born in 1989 in Sumy, Ukraine. Studied at the Viktor Marushchenko School of Photography (2016-2018). In 2015, he was shortlisted for the All-Ukrainian Photographer of the Year 2014 award. Since 2015, has participated in personal and group exhibition projects in Kyiv, Warsaw and Klaipeda. Was nominated for the PinchukArtCentre Award 2019. He works with the themes of trauma and memory, researches subcultural local communities and phenomena, as well as their influence on current processes in Ukrainian art. Lives and works in Kyiv.