Mykhailo Alekseenko

The Fragments project emerged from Alekseenko’s expedition trips to document the situation in liberated towns around Kyiv, namely Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, Borodyanka and some others. The artist filmed the consequences of the occupation and locals’ attempts to tidy up their homes even though some residential buildings have had their necessary elements almost completely destroyed in the hostilities. In the dwellings, among different ruined household items, he often finds shattered crystal glasses and vases. These crystal objects, once symbols of wealth and prosperity, are visual images of soviet everyday life, becoming now a recognizable part of the landscape of destruction.

The video shows a close-up of restoration of a crystal glass carried out by meticulous gluing of its shards back together. The final product, i.e. the restored glass, is showcased in an illuminated pedestal in the centre of the exhibition space. Even though it might look like a practically usable item, its surface is still covered with cracks, which makes it more of an artefact holding memory of the war than an actual piece of glassware.