Artist Spotlight: Anastasia Blackman
Meet Ukrainian photographer Anastasia Blackman. Anastasia collaborated with Alphaa.io to create a series of limited edition prints and NFTs to raise funds for Foreign United Peoples, an NGO working on the frontlines to evacuate Ukrainian refugees and provide vital support to hospitals in war zones.
Anastasia was born in Crimea, Ukraine and currently is based out of San Francisco, California. She has been interested in visual language since her childhood and began pursuing photography when she moved to California as a young adult. She has worked as a commercial photographer as well as a fine art photographer. Anastasia is currently working on an ongoing project that addresses the displacement Ukrainians are experiencing due to war.
Anastasia’s ongoing project UKRAINE UNITED features a series of images taken from zoom calls with Ukrainian women artists affected by the war.
She created the images for this moving project by connecting her computer to a video projector during the calls. She took photos of the projections and transported images of her subjects at home in Ukraine to her San Francisco apartment. Many of the scenes from Ukraine in her series no longer exist, adding an extra layer of meaning to the project.
A majority of the proceeds from UKRAINE UNITED will be donated to support Foreign United Peoples’ efforts. Foreign United Peoples is a group of volunteers, consisting of everyday people from all over the world, who provide direct aid to Ukrainians affected by the war. Volunteers deliver food and medical supplies to hospitals and civilians in the hardest hit cities and evacuate the most vulnerable civilians to safe areas. The money raised will help volunteers fund their efforts from gas for their vans to the essential supplies that they deliver.
“UKRAINE UNITED is a special project about Ukrainian women artists during the war. In heartbreaking times, it is important to stay strong and create help and support instead of spreading hate and fear. I hope to raise awareness and funds to support Ukraine with our voices through this project,” says Blackman.
Marta Borovets and Making of
For part of the series, Anastasia Blackman interviewed her friend, journalist and activist Marta via Zoom during lockdown from Marta’s home in Vyshgorod, Ukraine. “We talked about sunflowers and a feeling of home. I lost my home when Russia occupied Crimea. For Marta, home is where her family is,” says Blackman. “Today, that house is not on a map as it was bombed and destroyed by Russians. Marta is safe in Germany, raising awareness and funds for the Ukrainian army,” she adds. We talked with Blackman about why this project is so close to her heart and why photography is the perfect medium for her.
How did you come up with the idea for UKRAINE UNITED?
Ukraine United is a special project about Ukrainian women artists during the war. In heartbreaking times, the hardest thing is to stay strong and create help and support instead of spreading hate and fear. I talked with my artist friends and we decided that we wanted to raise awareness and funds to support Ukraine using our own voices. So I photographed Ukrainian women artists while they told me their stories. We talked about the current war, its impact on millions of lives, and the future of Ukraine.
The unity and dignity of Ukrainians under extreme terror and consistent attack is an example of how to fight for freedom and independence in the world.
How did you get into photography?
Since childhood, visual storytelling has been my language. It felt like the only way to show what I meant and how I saw the world around me. Then, after I moved to California, the image became a way to connect and learn about culture through stories of outstanding people. I learned I could make a bigger impact by translating their stories into images.
How did you develop the “teleportation” technique you use in UKRAINE UNITED?
The idea of photographing anyone from anywhere without leaving my home developed into a photo technique that I call "teleportation.” That connected me to an amazing art community of Ukrainian and European artists around the world.
Can you share a story of one of your subjects that impacted you?
Yova Yager is a Ukrainian hospitality designer. She fills the space and people with her unique energy, never-ending childlike wholeness, joy, and ironic attitude. Her designs are known for their functionality and attention to detail as well as the same feeling of charm and humor. Her work always contains an important message: keep the planet safe and living species cared for.
Unfortunately, one of her recent creations, Bar Koktelka was destroyed in Kharkiv during the air attack in March 2022. Today Yova is in Cologne with an emergency suitcase, a backpack with her work electronics, and two chocolate bars from her beloved that she is saving until the victory.
“I didn’t want to leave Kyiv till the last minute as I felt direct responsibility to support my people, and almost like a proof that everything is ok because I am still in town.I realized that I was never afraid to die but was fearful of war and its massive damage and impact. I don’t have many choices other than staying strong and giving as much support as possible fearlessly guiding and helping people to stay safe and inspired,” she told me. “Our people are united worldwide and support each other with a kind attitude and dignity under extreme violence.”
