Ukrainian photographic artist Alina Araslanova: My daughter became the voice, model, and muse of my 'Paper Shelter' photo project

Alina Araslanova is a Ukrainian fine art photographer who focuses on important social issues in her work, such as coming of age, loss, and many others. On February 27, her exhibition "Paper Shelter" opened in Vienna Lik Gallery and will run until March 17. The exhibition is dedicated to the theme of children growing up in the context of forced migration caused by russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Alina shared with Drive Music Media her journey in photography, the "Paper Shelter" project, and the experience of opening her exhibition in Vienna.

Interviewer: Tell us about the beginning of your journey in photography. Why did you decide to become a photographer?

Alina: My journey in photography began in childhood when I watched my father, who was passionate about photography. I was always surrounded by creativity and felt that photography was a powerful means of expression. In 2018, after 16 years of working in marketing, I decided to return to art. Studying at the Kyiv School of Photography became a significant step in developing my career.

Interviewer: Tell us about the "Paper Shelter" photo project. Why did you choose to focus on this topic?

Alina: "Paper Shelter" explores the experiences of teenagers forced to emigrate due to war. I decided to highlight this topic because it is both important and highly relevant. This project is deeply personal to me because I witnessed my eldest daughter go through it. She faced profound changes – growing up, being displaced by war, losing her home, school, friends, and familiar surroundings. My daughter became the voice of this project, my model, and my muse. Through "Paper Shelter", I found a way to communicate with her, to accompany her on her journey of self-acceptance, body image, and femininity. The process of creating this series was emotionally intense. I worked with colored paper, which symbolizes shelter and safety. Each color represents different emotions and experiences that teenagers go through.

Interviewer: Tell us about your experience being featured in the book "100 Contemporary Photographers of Ukraine".

Alina: Being part of the book "100 Contemporary Photographers of Ukraine" was a great honor for me. It affirmed that my work has meaning. Seeing my photographs on its pages, I felt deep gratitude for the opportunity to share my vision with others.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Dmytro Bogachuk for this opportunity, for his artistic path, courage, and dedication to showcasing Ukrainian photography to the world.

Interviewer: Tell us about the "Sense of War" project.

Alina: "Sense of War" is a project that explores the emotions of people experiencing war. My goal is to show how war affects daily life, relationships, and mental well-being. This is an important topic, and I use photography as a medium to bring these issues into discussion. In September 2023, I received my first honorary award from the Vienna International Photo Award for a photograph from the "Sense of War" series.

Interviewer: How difficult was it to organize the exhibition in Vienna?

Alina: Organizing the exhibition in Vienna was a challenge but also an incredibly valuable experience. I faced various difficulties, including selecting and preparing the works, determining their sizes, finding a printing location, handling logistics from Kyiv to Vienna, promoting the exhibition in an unfamiliar city, managing printing materials, sending invitations, and arranging catering from scratch.

I am deeply grateful for the support of Nadiia Guzenberg, who believed in me and invited me to exhibit at LIK Gallery; Oleksandr Zubar for preparing all the printed materials and patiently handling countless revisions; Vadym Supruniuk for high-quality, fast printing and shipping of 27 works to Vienna; Nova Poshta for ensuring the safe and timely delivery of all pieces; Ilia Zerkalov for an extraordinary and fantastic book created in collaboration with the French publishing house FORM; and especially Dmytro Bohachuk for his "Contemporary Photography" course in March 2023, which led to the beginning of the "Paper Shelter" series, and for his belief in the power of photography as an art form.

I am also grateful to the Kyiv School of Photography for shaping my path in photography; Anna Chetverik – the best stylist, attentive friend, and incredible photoshoot organizer; Milena Lutska for my beautiful makeup at the opening; Anna Chupryna for her patience, guidance, and help in launching targeted advertising for the exhibition; Viktoriia and Oleh Shorstka for their invaluable contribution and support; Viktoriia Shvets for handling all the catering preparations –from buying tables for the reception to arranging glasses and inflating balloons for decoration. A special thank you to Anna Vershebeniuk, who instantly agreed to fly from London to host meetings for Ukrainian parents and teenagers on March 8 and 9; Tina Barde, a Swiss coach-psychologist who supported this project and will conduct a free workshop for teenagers in English on March 16, 2025; Anastasiia Zaporozhets, who traveled from Prague specifically to film the exhibition opening, charity pie event, and book presentation; Anastasiia Kuzmyna, a unique violinist who played from the heart for two days at the "Paper Shelter" exhibition; Lina Soloviy, who, without knowing me, willingly traveled from Bratislava to participate in the book presentation and host an evening of Ukrainian poetry reading in Vienna; Anastasiia Knysh, who helped welcome guests on the first day, serve pies on the second day, and prosecco and wine on the third; Anastasiia Yaniuk, who persistently advocated for the Ukrainian Saturday school to inform teenagers about the free workshops on March 9 and 16 as part of the "Paper Shelter" exhibition. I am incredibly thankful to my family for their support! The preparation began in October 2024 and continued until February 27, 2025. I am very satisfied with the results and am still in the process of carrying out the rest of the planned program.

Interviewer: Tell us about the works that were selected for the Vienna International Photo Awards 2024.

Alina: At the awards ceremony, my works from the "Paper Shelter" series, particularly "There Is No One Here", received recognition in categories highlighting the importance of social issues. I was also honored for a photograph from my "Frozen Pregnancy" series. This event was an incredible experience, and I was thrilled to become part of Vienna’s community of photographers. Without this event, I wouldn’t have had my first solo exhibition in Vienna.

Interviewer: Which work from the "Paper Shelter" series is the most special to you, and why?

Alina: The most special piece for me is "There Is No One Here" because it captures a deep sense of loss and the search for identity. This photograph reflects the emotions that many teenagers have experienced during the war.

Another significant photograph is "I Am Beautiful". My daughter said those exact words when she saw herself in this image. As a mother, it was a moment of happiness for me because she was able to see her own beauty and strength despite all the challenges she had faced.

Interviewer: What projects are you currently working on?

Alina: Right now, I am developing new ideas that continue to explore social issues related to war and emigration. It is important for me to keep raising questions that need to be discussed.

I am also continuing to work on "Paper Shelter", expanding the project and searching for new ways to highlight the emotions and experiences that arise from these difficult situations.

Interviewer: What has been the most important exhibition in your artistic journey?

Alina: The most important exhibition in my artistic path was "New Eye" in Kyiv in 2021. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my work to a wider audience and receive feedback, which became a turning point for my career’s growth.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a Ukrainian photographer?

Alina: As a Ukrainian photographer, my mission is to shed light on important social issues through art. I want my work to make people reflect on life, emotions, and the challenges others face.

Interviewer: What word best describes your approach to photography?

Alina: I associate my photography with "courage". This word reflects my willingness to address important and sometimes difficult topics, as well as the bravery to be open in my creative process.

The photographs were taken from Alina Araslanova's social media