Mateusz Baj's Photographic Exploration of Freedom in Catania
The 2LAB cultural space in Catania hosts a photographic review titled 'PYÏHA' by Polish documentary photographer Mateusz Baj, running until December 2023. The series, created between 2014 and 2022, examines concepts of borders, conflict, and ruin in Ukraine. Baj's work captures the intimate reality of war, from the solemnity of funerals to the presence of Azov militants, using a Caravaggesque tone that evokes a dark century. The exhibition is part of a broader program featuring five photographers, five exhibitions, and five talks, all centered on the theme of freedom—limited during the pandemic, stripped in the Ukrainian-Russian war, and forgotten in digital black boxes. The review continues with works by Yarin del Vecchio, Chiara Fossati, Irene Angelino, and Simone Cerio.
Key facts
- 2LAB in Catania hosts a photographic review on freedom
- Mateusz Baj's series 'PYÏHA' focuses on Ukraine from 2014 to 2022
- Baj is a documentary photographer born in Wlodawa, Poland in 1988
- The exhibition includes two series: one on borders from 2013 and another on Ukraine in 2022
- The title 'PYÏHA' means 'ruin' in Ukrainian, referencing the country's political situation
- The review features five photographers, five exhibitions, and five talks
- Other photographers include Yarin del Vecchio, Chiara Fossati, Irene Angelino, and Simone Cerio
- The event runs until December 2023
Entities
Artists
- Mateusz Baj
- Yarin del Vecchio
- Chiara Fossati
- Irene Angelino
- Simone Cerio
Institutions
- 2LAB
- Artribune
Locations
- Catania
- Italy
- Wlodawa
- Poland
- Ukraine