This project is an artistic response to the recent events in Kherson, Ukraine, a region once known for its natural beauty and now marked by conflict. Marta Syrko, who has frequently traveled to this part of her country for her work, including projects in Askania Nova, can now only reconnect with Kherson through photographs and memories. The area's transformation from a fertile land to a warzone stands as a powerful symbol of loss, resilience, and the fleeting nature of peace.
To honor the memory of Kherson, the artist incorporates real footage from the region to create large-scale images that symbolize life and fertility—both of which have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict. The focal point of the images is the land, divided into concentric circles formed by irrigation patterns that once sustained the soil. These circles serve as visual reminders of the land’s former prosperity, drawing a stark contrast between the vibrancy of the past and the desolation of the present.In this work, the circle—a symbol of infinity and the life-giving power of the earth—now carries dual meanings. While it still reflects resilience and the enduring spirit of the land, it also represents emptiness and loss, inviting viewers to contemplate what has been destroyed and what remains. The enduring shapes left on the landscape echo both the fragility and strength of the region, embodying the tension between memory and reality.
Syrko enhances this sense of monumentality by employing techniques such as stone stamping and India ink. The use of these mediums raises questions about scale and perspective—the once vast and fertile land now feels diminished, with the circles representing a lost grandeur.