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Photographer Spends 10 Years Photographing Same Bench, Captures More Than He Expects
One Ukrainian photographer has spent a decade of his life on a single project, and it’s so intimate, it’ll make you feel things. Through his kitchen window, Yevhen Kotenko has shot the same park bench for 10 years and while its paint changed, some things remained the same.
“I didn’t give myself any time limits or goals, I just went to the kitchen and looked out the window,” Kotenko told RFE/RL. “Usually there was something to see.” Although Kotenko claimed he has fond memories of the neighborhood he grew up in, “there were a lot of bad things, too, that are better not to think about.”
“The worst thing was seeing people I went to school with drinking on this bench, then crawling home like reptiles. I was scared that if I went outside, I’d become one of them.” Kotenko said the subjects he captured were oblivious of his camera. His project had been on display at a Kyiv art pub until January 26 and received mixed reactions. “Some people laughed, others complained that I just focused on the alcoholics.”
And even though the photographer moved to another place in 2017, he will still be able to carry on with his work. “I only moved 1 kilometer down the road.” His parents still live in the apartment with the view.
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What do you think ?
John L 6 years ago
Actually the bench itself is just as interesting, because it undergoes changes, which give a strong indicator as to which photo is the oldest, all the way to the latest shots. After initially going through the pictures, I noticed this, and studied them closely. The pictures are wildly out of order chronologically. The oldest one is unique and easy to separate from the others. Is there anyone here who can tell us which is the oldest, and should be at the top of the list? And can anyone see the four step sequence in the pictures?
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Jonathan Levich 6 years ago
They like their booze in Ukraine. That last pic tho lol. Looks like a runner who was just like "yeah, eff this whole exercise thing, nap time"
Alia G. 6 years ago
This is a very cool series, but I’m always a little irked by photographs of strangers who don’t know they’re being photographed. Every once in a while when i’m downtown someone will be going around taking random photos of people for a project. Some people don’t mind, but there are people (like me) that hate having their photo taken and so we cover our faces. A man yelled at me once for holding my hands in front of my face, and because i don’t like confrontation i just gave up and let him photograph me. It’s really uncomfortable to be in that situation, and have yourself recorded and put on display for all to see. I should say though, that if you have the people’s permission, this is just fine and a wonderful project. (Sorry for long comment)
Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago
Same bench, that is sometimes different. :) I didn't know they drink in the Ukraine. :P
Aunt Messy 6 years ago
Like fish. What's the address of the cave you've been living in?
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Gillian Black 6 years ago
some things get better with age and this bench has got better and seen it all and is still standing amazing
Chris Walters 6 years ago
Loved these. Every day life. People talking to each other. Sharing things. And only one phone being used in all the pictures. That's amazing right there!
Zori the degu 6 years ago
The real reason I love old(meaning I've known about them for a loooong time) muddy places scattered around my neighbourhood is that they always seem to have someone peculiar hanging around them. I mean, it's like a whole community! For instance, a few blocks away from where I live there's a place like that: a bunch of old benches under a couple of trees and they've been standing there for as long as I can remember. By far, my most favourite group of people whose chat headquarters are there are four old gentlemen and their old dachshund. Same goes for the "dog garden" as we call it. It's muddy, grassless and more or less useless all year round, yet so many of us, dog people simply go there to chat. Dogs don't mind being muddy anyway.
Andy Popov 6 years ago
US Congress meddled into Ukrainian problems last year with the law HR-3364. This law requires sanctions against Russia because Ukraine infringes human rights and because American Congress is blind and deaf to this infringement of human rights! What happened: New Ukrainian government, supported by USA, adopted the silly law on 23 February 2014 year to forbid the Russian language for Russian speaking citizens, living in Crimea. So these vexed dwellers of Crimea voted in the democratic referendum to leave Ukraine and to join to Russia. I think, if Russia will do one more democratic referendum in Crimea, about voluntary joining to Russia - it will deprive the Law HR-3364 the juridical basis and it will make this law obsolete.
Abhisek Chakraborty 6 years ago
This is an incredible post. Reminds me of a similar bench we used to meet up when we were kids. I am sure all of us have had one when we were kids.
Faith Nicole 6 years ago
Would love to know the story behind these photos, like the giy sleeping on the ground rather than a bench?
David Herz 6 years ago
there is a huge role played by alcohol, hardly a picture without it, which says a lot, the pictures are powerful...land of my ancestors...
Vicky Stardust 6 years ago
The sad reality of the Ukraine. I guess the same photos would have been taken in my country or in any other country of the former Eastern Block. ☹
Jovy Jergens 6 years ago
I don't think 90% of these people are alcoholics. One or 2 occasional drinks do not an alcoholic make. Even if some of them are, their dog seems well fed and well-cared-for.
Full Name 6 years ago
This is a horrible thing to share publicly. What an a*****e! We're tracked by our phones, have our information farmed, and now these people just sat on a bench, yet ended up in a public display, often for embarrassing reasons.
Echo 6 years ago
Wait someone went to a public area and their privacy was taken from them? Sorry I doubt that most people would be thinking this. The other things you mentioned are very much a problem. One that we have allowed because of want. This one here is simply a person taking pictures of a bench that people decided to sit on. If you want to do something in private go do it in private. Playgrounds and parks are not private places and you shouldn't expect to have that there.
Load More Replies...
Martin Forbes 6 years ago
Quick question... is it a Ukrainian thing for most people to sit with their legs crossed ? I just wondered.
Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
What? This isn't a cultural thing. People do this the world over!
Load More Replies...
Sniegena 8 6 years ago
That's like daily life if you live anywhere in eastern Europe... nothing charming about it, the only normal person in these pictures is the guy reading and the doggo, others are all druggies or prostitutes, 1/3 of Ukrainian women sell sex for money, even more drink and smoke,it's a f*****g nightmare, sure it's charming to go to some African country too,but in the end it's a shithole,same with most of eastern Europe.
noitall man 6 years ago
wow. that might have been the least compelling thing i have seen on here.
John L 6 years ago
Actually the bench itself is just as interesting, because it undergoes changes, which give a strong indicator as to which photo is the oldest, all the way to the latest shots. After initially going through the pictures, I noticed this, and studied them closely. The pictures are wildly out of order chronologically. The oldest one is unique and easy to separate from the others. Is there anyone here who can tell us which is the oldest, and should be at the top of the list? And can anyone see the four step sequence in the pictures?
Load More Replies... Jonathan Levich 6 years ago
They like their booze in Ukraine. That last pic tho lol. Looks like a runner who was just like "yeah, eff this whole exercise thing, nap time"
Alia G. 6 years ago
This is a very cool series, but I’m always a little irked by photographs of strangers who don’t know they’re being photographed. Every once in a while when i’m downtown someone will be going around taking random photos of people for a project. Some people don’t mind, but there are people (like me) that hate having their photo taken and so we cover our faces. A man yelled at me once for holding my hands in front of my face, and because i don’t like confrontation i just gave up and let him photograph me. It’s really uncomfortable to be in that situation, and have yourself recorded and put on display for all to see. I should say though, that if you have the people’s permission, this is just fine and a wonderful project. (Sorry for long comment)
Aahzmandus Pervect 6 years ago
Same bench, that is sometimes different. :) I didn't know they drink in the Ukraine. :P
Aunt Messy 6 years ago
Like fish. What's the address of the cave you've been living in?
Load More Replies... Gillian Black 6 years ago
some things get better with age and this bench has got better and seen it all and is still standing amazing
Chris Walters 6 years ago
Loved these. Every day life. People talking to each other. Sharing things. And only one phone being used in all the pictures. That's amazing right there!
Zori the degu 6 years ago
The real reason I love old(meaning I've known about them for a loooong time) muddy places scattered around my neighbourhood is that they always seem to have someone peculiar hanging around them. I mean, it's like a whole community! For instance, a few blocks away from where I live there's a place like that: a bunch of old benches under a couple of trees and they've been standing there for as long as I can remember. By far, my most favourite group of people whose chat headquarters are there are four old gentlemen and their old dachshund. Same goes for the "dog garden" as we call it. It's muddy, grassless and more or less useless all year round, yet so many of us, dog people simply go there to chat. Dogs don't mind being muddy anyway.
Andy Popov 6 years ago
US Congress meddled into Ukrainian problems last year with the law HR-3364. This law requires sanctions against Russia because Ukraine infringes human rights and because American Congress is blind and deaf to this infringement of human rights! What happened: New Ukrainian government, supported by USA, adopted the silly law on 23 February 2014 year to forbid the Russian language for Russian speaking citizens, living in Crimea. So these vexed dwellers of Crimea voted in the democratic referendum to leave Ukraine and to join to Russia. I think, if Russia will do one more democratic referendum in Crimea, about voluntary joining to Russia - it will deprive the Law HR-3364 the juridical basis and it will make this law obsolete.
Abhisek Chakraborty 6 years ago
This is an incredible post. Reminds me of a similar bench we used to meet up when we were kids. I am sure all of us have had one when we were kids.
Faith Nicole 6 years ago
Would love to know the story behind these photos, like the giy sleeping on the ground rather than a bench?
David Herz 6 years ago
there is a huge role played by alcohol, hardly a picture without it, which says a lot, the pictures are powerful...land of my ancestors...
Vicky Stardust 6 years ago
The sad reality of the Ukraine. I guess the same photos would have been taken in my country or in any other country of the former Eastern Block. ☹
Jovy Jergens 6 years ago
I don't think 90% of these people are alcoholics. One or 2 occasional drinks do not an alcoholic make. Even if some of them are, their dog seems well fed and well-cared-for.
Full Name 6 years ago
This is a horrible thing to share publicly. What an a*****e! We're tracked by our phones, have our information farmed, and now these people just sat on a bench, yet ended up in a public display, often for embarrassing reasons.
Echo 6 years ago
Wait someone went to a public area and their privacy was taken from them? Sorry I doubt that most people would be thinking this. The other things you mentioned are very much a problem. One that we have allowed because of want. This one here is simply a person taking pictures of a bench that people decided to sit on. If you want to do something in private go do it in private. Playgrounds and parks are not private places and you shouldn't expect to have that there.
Load More Replies... Martin Forbes 6 years ago
Quick question... is it a Ukrainian thing for most people to sit with their legs crossed ? I just wondered.
Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
What? This isn't a cultural thing. People do this the world over!
Load More Replies... Sniegena 8 6 years ago
That's like daily life if you live anywhere in eastern Europe... nothing charming about it, the only normal person in these pictures is the guy reading and the doggo, others are all druggies or prostitutes, 1/3 of Ukrainian women sell sex for money, even more drink and smoke,it's a f*****g nightmare, sure it's charming to go to some African country too,but in the end it's a shithole,same with most of eastern Europe.
noitall man 6 years ago
wow. that might have been the least compelling thing i have seen on here.
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