Changing Direction to Art and Documentary Photography

Featuring Daria Svertilova Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski

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Daria Svertilova is a photographer from Odesa, Ukraine, currently based in Paris. After finishing her Bachelor's degree in Ukraine, Daria decided to move to Paris and attend École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, in which she studies by this day.

Daria is a part of Join The Cool (the creative collective which consists of Genia Volkov, Anastasia Lazurenko, Kristina Podobed, and Daria Svertilova). Join the Cool addresses social issues and challenges social norms of the Soviet-era juxtaposing it to today’s reality, questioning its remains versus the youthful rebellious spirit trying to break this continuum.

Daria is highly conscious of the environmental issues we face today, which she makes sure to share her voice and opinion to create a bigger awareness. In the interview, she explains that facing those challenges is a goal she wants to work towards to create a relief.

Her fashion stories had been published in numerous magazines worldwide. Her last group exhibition ‘Alien She’ took place in Paris uniting 20 young female artists. Among additional exhibitions featuring her works are ‘Raising the Curtain’, Belgium, 2019; and several exhibitions as part of the Join The Cool like ‘Kuyalnik Love-Stories’, Ukraine, 2018.

We speak with Daria about her life in Paris, her hometown Odesa, a recent trip to the Georgian Mountains, and Join the Cool.

‘I was planning to move abroad to study photography after finishing my Bachelor in Ukraine, but the chosen destination was Vienna. Then I fell in love, and my plans changed.’

Hey Daria, what are you up to today?

Looking for work in Paris (always, haha) and getting ready to enter the third year of school.

So, you currently reside in Paris, attending École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. Tell about the move to this beautiful city and the decision to study there?

I was planning to move abroad to study photography after finishing my Bachelor in Ukraine, but the chosen destination was Vienna. Then I fell in love, and my plans changed.

What are your favorite less touristy places in Paris?

Canal Saint-Martin. It’s quite a popular place, but you rather meet young French than tourists there. 

What are the first three things you want to do when you graduate? 

Travel for long, shoot a lot, meet new people.

‘Indifference to ecological issues makes me very angry and sad, I would like to work on this subject in the future.’

What are your favorite less touristy places in Paris?

Canal Saint-Martin. It’s quite a popular place, but you rather meet young French than tourists there. 

What are the first three things you want to do when you graduate? 

Travel for long, shoot a lot, meet new people.

Tell about your hometown, the scene of creatives and what’s special about it for you.

I come from Odesa, a chill city by the seaside in the south of Ukraine. I used to think that there were always a lot of talented and creative people because of this open-minded spirit of the southern port town where different cultures are melted. However, most of the creatives move abroad or to Kyiv because of lack of opportunities for local artists.

‘There is always much more energy in a collective project. While working on a project, each of us tries to do his/her best, to invest the maximum.’

What makes you angry and do you ever bring this type of emotion to a manifestation in your work?

Indifference to ecological issues makes me very angry and sad, I would like to work on this subject in the future.

What is the most memorable moment in your life or the moment you are most proud of? 

When I learned that I was accepted to the French school, I am studying in now. It was a truly life-changing moment. 

How the dynamic on set is different when working together with other photographers? Tell about your work with Join the Cool.  

There is always much more energy in a collective project. While working on a project, each of us tries to do his/her best, to invest the maximum. It creates an amazing mix of competences, skills, and strong sides of every member unite for one powerful idea. 

How was your experience in Georgia and the trip to the mountains? 

Splendid. But I am afraid to tell more and to recommend this destination because I don’t want it to be spoiled by tourists. 

How do you think your photography developed and the genres you are interested in changed?  

I started from fashion photography, but it was never purely cold fashion though. Now I want to work more on art and documentary. I believe my subjects grew up the same as me :)

We sometimes see you on the other side of the lens. What makes a strong portrait for you? 

‘As a photographer, I am quite demanding to the portraits of myself. I think the right connection with a person who takes me in the picture is 70% of success. The rest is about skills.’

What’s next?

Stay tuned, and you will see!