Ukraine’s trees - the silent witnesses of war
‘Wounded. Alive.’
An exhibition by Valentyna Okhlopkova
15th – 16th September at the University of Warwick
At this year’s Arboricultural Association Conference, war-torn trees from Ukraine will tell their story through the lens of combat photographer Valentyna Okhlopkova, the first time the gallery has been presented outside of Ukraine.
The photo exhibition ‘Wounded. Alive.’ is dedicated to trees in Ukraine that have become silent witnesses of war. Valentyna is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, volunteer, civic activist and chair of an NGO called Fairness Corps. She voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a combat photographer, recently serving with the 78th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment.
The exhibition will be on display as part of the Arboricultural Association Conference at the University of Warwick on 15th And 16th September. Original prints from Ukraine have been sent over to show in the gallery, while images and posters will be on sale at the event to raise funds to help Valentyna continue her work in Ukraine.
‘Wounded. Alive.’ is a powerful dedication to the trees that have become silent witnesses of war. These trees were wounded by shrapnel, scorched by fire, torn by explosions - yet they endured. They are still alive and continue to live and blossom, continuing to grow despite the injuries they have received.
Valentyna's military comrades came to the gallery for the opening of the original exhibition which was held at BureauArt in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.
"I love nature very much, and it hurt to see what wounds war causes to our environment. It hurts not only people in the country"
This series of photographs is not merely a documentary record of the damage Russian aggression has inflicted on our environment. It is an attempt to see life that sprouts through wounds, a strength that resists destruction. It is the author’s reflection on her own post-traumatic growth.
The images cover different regions of Ukraine where the fighting has left its mark not only on people’s lives but also on nature. Here, the trees are not background, but protagonists. They become symbols of our resilience, memory, and hope.
Reflecting on one of her favourite photographs, Valentyna explained
This is one of the most evocative works. This tree is located in a completely bombed-out yard, burned, this tree is charred, part of the branches have fallen off, but it has released young leaves. When I took pictures of him, my soul resonated strongly".
The exhibition runs 15–16 September at the University of Warwick as part of the UK’s longest-running arboriculture conference.
Exhibition preview