GALYNA ZAITSEVA: About
I was born in Kherson in Ukraine. My hometown is on the front line, and it is bombed every day by the Russian army. The kindergarten where I went when I was little has been obliterated. The secondary school where I studied has been destroyed. The hospital where I was born, and where I gave birth to my children, has disappeared. My home and my children’s home, an apartment in Kherson, was wiped out.
Ireland has become my second home. It was in the spirit of immense gratitude to Ireland and the Irish people that I formulated this photographic project and the exhibition is dedicated to all of you! Most of the photographs in this exhibition are from the Old House Memories project. I have noticed many abandoned houses in West Cork; their magical appearance inspired me to "revitalise" them. Even though they only come to life in the imagination, perhaps the viewer will be reminded that someone once lived there, that each house has a unique history.
Before the war I was a successful art director of fashion photo shoots, a popular stylist and photographer. Beauty has always been important to me; I see it in every person, in nature, architecture and life itself. And I have always wanted to make life and people even more beautiful. In the recent years before the war my work as creative director, stylist and photographer was published in over fifty international fashion magazines. My work as a stylist was honoured by being published in L'Officiel magazine in France and on the cover of KODD Paris magazine.
2021: My work was awarded a prize as one of the 50 best fashion photographs in the prestigious FAPA UK photography competition.
2020: My project What is the Future? was exhibited at London's Boomer Gallery in the What is Art exhibition.
2019: I was the winner of the MAG Fashion Forum and Award international competition collaboration in Austria.
2016: I was the winner of Woman in Men's Clothing competition and stylist of the month by the magazine Scuola Italiana di moda e Stile.
2012: At the photo symposium Man and Nature in Zingst Germany I raised the issue of human pollution of the environment, which is even more urgent today.
The first thing I did on arrival at Skibbereen was to become a member of the Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre and take part in the members' exhibition. My photo was sold in the first half hour, which was a wonderful surprise. This was very affirming and inspired me to create some of the works in this exhibition. Ireland's ancient and magnificent landscapes, magical old houses and lovely people continue to inspire me to continue with my work each and every day.