Ben McLaughlin launches Unofficial series with Eugenia Skvarska's Dnipro project

Ben McLaughlin has introduced Unofficial, a new publishing initiative under Officialzine, debuting with 'Dnipro, The Plunging Shore,' which showcases the work of Ukrainian art director Eugenia Skvarska. This 38-page collection features landscapes of the Dnipro river captured by photographer Kalpesh Lathigra, alongside studio portraits of Ukrainian Londoners styled by Skvarska in outfits from emerging Ukrainian designers and vintage pieces. Skvarska, originally from Kyiv, felt a pressing need to document the river following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023. She journeyed along the Dnipro with Lathigra in a Smart car provided by a concrete company. McLaughlin printed Lathigra's landscapes to serve as backdrops for the portrait session, aiming to showcase a vibrant, modern perspective of Ukraine rather than focusing on devastation. The book was produced in a limited run of 450 copies by Grafiche Veneziane and took two years to edit with curator Adam Murray, who leads the MA Fashion Image program at Central Saint Martins, where Skvarska was a student. Plans include two editions annually, with future releases potentially featuring non-image-makers curating their hometowns.