Ba ...

Photo left: One grandmother is photographed in her clothing store, where clothes embody a lifelong devotion, a space that represents her life’s work and reflects resilience, care, and dedication.

Photo right: The other granny wears the white outfit she saved for her funeral — the only “special” clothing she kept. 

This series was created in collaboration between Yevheniia Kriuk and Zinaida Tsyhliuk, who visited their grandmothers in Ukraine during the Easter holidays, an important celebration in Ukrainian culture. Despite the war, the significance of celebration and the preservation of traditions endure.

Zinaida: “My grandmother, who shares my name, has always been proud that people sometimes confused her with my mother. In her clothing shop she creates a welcoming atmosphere and treats every girl she dresses like a daughter. She often shares the story of how, at 16, she traveled alone to another country to buy goods for her father." 

Zinaida: „That story always reminds me of her incredible strength and determination. In a difficult Soviet era, she left her village alone at 16 and managed to build her success entirely through her own efforts. To me, she is a powerful example of resilience and independence in the face of hardship.”

Yevheniia: “In my childhood, my parents often sent me to stay with my grandmother during the holidays. In Bucha, life was peaceful, but I didn’t have many friends there. Most of my time was spent connecting with nature, in the garden or vegetable patch. I would play with flowers, arranging the petals into mosaics and creating little figures. My grandmother was kind and never scolded me for picking her flowers.”