When photographer Anton Shebetko came up with an idea to create a series of photos featuring LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) people who fought in Ukraine’s east, he didn’t believe he would find people willing to participate. In a couple of months, he had a set of artistic pictures and frank interviews and was getting ready for the exhibition.
Called “We were here,” the exhibition aims to prove that LGBT people are involved in fighting for Ukraine’s independence despite a stereotype they only stand up for the rights of their community.
Shebetko says that LGBT people went to fight in the country’s east after Russia unleashed the war there in 2014 for a variety of reasons.
“They feel the need to protect their country, they see the point in this and many of them do it well. The fact that you are gay or lesbian does not interfere with your ability to shoot accurately at the target,” the photographer told the Kyiv Post in the interview on Aug. 27.
“We were here” exhibits video installations and photos of eight people, who are difficult to identify as their faces are hidden. Despite their willingness to take part in the project, they didn’t want to take a risk revealing themselves because of society’s intolerance.
The exhibition opened at cultural center Izone on Aug. 30 and will last until Oct. 7.
Shebetko, 28, was born and raised in Kyiv. Having a background in journalism, he shifted to photography 2.5 years ago. As he is gay, Shebetko is especially interested in exploring LGBT people through art — this is his sixth photo project about them. Read more via Kyiv Post