NIGHTINGALES
NIGHTINGALES is a project that had to be reshaped during its production, rethinking the concepts of youth and spring as a future that holds promise and hope. The reconstruction of the idea and meaning was brought as an inevitable change with the outbreak of war in Ukraine which started on February 24th.
The dreamers — the characters in the project — took the responsibility of installing a more prominent hope and a brighter future — the one without war — while mournfully fighting to preserve the memory of the fallen for this future to come to life. The project addresses themes of blissful youth, the bloom of nature, and the possibility of building a relationship — the basic human rights currently in the battle to be regained. The team dedicates the project to the fallen men of Ukraine — the ‘nightingales’ of the country, never to see spring again — “This project is dedicated to those who did not live to realise their dreams. Those who did not live to see the graduation, the wedding day, or the first morning in the new house. This is for dreamers and nightingales.”
Production SHABATURA Photography by Ira Vashchenko MUAH Sasha Vetrova Producer Liza Krisachenko Styling Liza Krisachenko & Iryna Korsak Video by Yulya Dahl Models Maria Yermakova at Wild Hunters Agency Denys Kuzen’ka at EGO MODELS Management Style assistant Anastasia Adamenko
‘That's how their story began. At 3:40 on February 24, 2022, a war started in Ukraine. And we were unable to continue filming.’
The project NIGHTINGALES was planned by my team back in spring when the soul rubs with poignant tenderness and dreaminess, and the head is dizzy with the fragrance of spring flowers. Spring is youth. Only in youth do the feelings of the soul interact with naked wires to the touch of great mysteries: Faith, Hope, and Love. They brawl, play hide and seek in grandma's garden, and taste delicious apples. Cheerful laughter echoes everywhere. That's how their story began. At 3:40 on February 24, 2022, a war started in Ukraine. And we were unable to continue filming. Ideas darkened, and colourful shades were replaced by gloomy gray clouds. Therefore, our project could only acquire two colours.
‘As colours fade — the nightingale's song gradually subsides. This project is dedicated to those who did not live to realise their dreams.’
The very name of the shooting, NIGHTINGALES, embodies birds in our heroes. A nightingale is the national symbol of Ukraine. The sign of true spring in forests, but only then does the spring of springs begin when it drinks water from leaves and sings until the gardens bloom. As colours fade — the nightingale's song gradually subsides. This project is dedicated to those who did not live to realise their dreams. Those who did not live to see the graduation, the wedding day, or the first morning in the new house. This is for dreamers and nightingales.
The project is dedicated to the youth by age or soul, the youth who died in the war in Ukraine. Forever Young. Strong storms, the sky is covered with clouds. The wind is rushing to sweep the last leaves from the branch, which was waving amiably after the young people running nearby. The birds flew away.
‘The hostess of the house brought us a bunch of apples for filming. We immediately decided to shoot several nude portraits because it is about the vulnerability in which we currently exist.’
We approached the choice of hut carefully. The photographer and I wanted to create a rustic house where all the colour would be felt and not just seen. The house stood like a feathery, white miracle among the trees, lined with sunflowers and viburnum. There was a yard around the house — outbuildings, a vegetable garden, a flower garden, fenced off with mud. The middle is embroidered with linen towels, white walls, and shuttered windows.
The hostess of the house brought us a bunch of apples for filming. We immediately decided to shoot several nude portraits because it is about the vulnerability in which we currently exist. Ira, the photographer, took great pleasure in allowing the models to be themselves hoping to create an image that would be as candid as possible. Someone started dancing, someone cried, and someone couldn't really relax — and this tension also turned out to be valuable. There was a special moment when the model started dancing, and the others joined him. The whole team was fascinated by it. We just caught it all on camera.
