Bogdan Tomashevsky

Phantom

2023,
Installation

One of the countless photographs of destroyed schools in Ukraine serves as the basis of this installation. Bogdan Tomashevsky conveys the image of a ruined school metaphorically; concrete stairs function as the foundation of the installation and symbolize lost educational institutions. The building’s outlines are reproduced by metal elements on the walls, reminiscent of real-world architectural structures. The artist emphasizes that all that remains of them are shadows and emptiness. Children’s drawings on the floor act as a reminder that they are being deprived of access to education. Phantom examines the tragedy of Russia’s attack in the light of lost educational opportunities, which mean it is also an attack on Ukraine’s history, literature, culture, and everything that young people everywhere discover through education. The installation calls for reflection on the devastating consequences of war, showing the scale of the Russian army’s aggression towards Ukraine’s peaceful population. Destroying kindergartens or schools means destroying places that are crucial in shaping the future of young children. Phantom reminds us that education, history, and culture are the keys to hope and to a future that must not be lost.