The podcast Kitchen Conversations, run by Patrycja Rozwora, is a platform to hear artists from so-called “Eastern Europe” speak about their work and practices in the context of the socio-political situation in that part of the world.
After the 24th of February, a lot of artists and creatives were stuck with the question of: how to make art in times of war? In response, Patrycja proposes a special edition of her podcast, dedicated to the culture and art of Ukraine. A selection of Ukrainian books, films, activists, musicians and so on are recommended to her by her fellow Ukrainian artist friends. The thumbnails of the episodes are protest banners painted by Patrycja and used on various anti war demonstrations in her current home – Berlin.
Episode 1 was curated by Ukrainian-American painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko, while episode 2 was curated by Ukrainian visual artist and photographer Olga Permiakova.
Unlike the first two episodes where the recommendations come from all across Ukraine, episode 3 focuses on a specific Ukrainian city. Alex Blanco – Ukrainian-Brazilian photographer and curator of this episode, shares recommendations from her home city Odesa (located at the Black Sea, south of Moldova).
Alex’s first recommendation is a book by Isaac Babel titled Odessa Stories – a collection of four tales situated in Odesa in the last days of the Russian Revolution. Second is the American film Everything is Illuminated directed by Live Schreiber – a lighthearted take on a story of a young man who sets out on a quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion during World War II. Last but not least, Alex also recommends us to look at the Privoz Market located at 14 Pryvozna Street, Odesa. It is one of the largest farmers markets in Europe with a history dating back to the 19th century.
On top of that, you can also learn more about the photographic work of Alex Blanco, who is interested in creating emotionally charged, deeply personal projects which are often uncomfortable for the viewer. Her recent series – Meat, Fish and Aubergine Caviar is a visual exploration about her parents’ life in Odesa, processing all of the intergenerational traumas of her family.
The conversation can be heard on most podcast streaming platforms including:
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Alex Blanco, Meat, Fish and Aubergine Caviar -
Alex Blanco, Meat, Fish and Aubergine Caviar -
Alex Blanco, Meat, Fish and Aubergine Caviar -
Alex Blanco, Meat, Fish and Aubergine Caviar
