As a child, I found joy in wandering the streets of my hometown and exploring its hidden treasures. From the remains of a German church to a secluded courtyard that once housed a brothel, each discovery held a piece of Odesa’s rich history. I remember the beauty of a fresco with missing parts and the sadness of destroyed family crests on the doors of almost every building in the city centre. But despite the scars of its past, Odesa blossomed before my eyes. It was transformed into a haven of food and art, with local restaurants offering a new take on home-cooked meals and cultural centres hosting film and photography festivals. During the time I lived and visited the city frequently, Odesa became synonymous with eternal summer, the most delicious and exquisite cuisine and the warmth of family and friends.
It was this Odesa that inspired my project “Meat, Fish & Aubergine Caviar” – a story about the bittersweetness of life, seasoned with tasty food and family anecdotes. I returned to Odesa between 2016 and 2021, capturing moments of my parents’ everyday life with its ups and downs. I hoped to capture their essence in my photographs. I wanted to keep them alive along with my childhood memories.
Unfortunately, the vibrant spirit of Odesa was shattered by the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. My hope to revive the cheerful atmosphere of Odesa faded as the city became a landscape of fear and despair. Two years later, Odesa still suffers from daily shelling. Looking at the pictures of “Meat, Fish & Aubergine Caviar” now, I am reminded of all that has been lost. But amidst the shattered memories and broken dreams, I find solace in the warmth of Odesa’s story, documented in these pages – a tribute to the fleeting moments of joy in the deep and turbulent ocean of life.
