How much is life?
How much is... life?' centers around a symbolic replica of a well—a powerful motif drawn from the catastrophic Kurenivka mudslide and the Babyn Yar massacre.
About the Installation
How much is... life?' centers around a symbolic replica of a well—a powerful motif drawn from the catastrophic Kurenivka mudslide and the Babyn Yar massacre. This well is a portal to the past, merging historical tragedy with contemporary reflection. By day, it stands as a silent testament to the horrors of forgotten atrocities. At night, it transforms into a living canvas, with motion animations that recount the chilling efficiency with which lives were once deemed expendable.
This installation uses the well's depth as a metaphor for the depth of human cruelty and indifference juxtaposed against the potential for deep compassion and connection. Interactive technologies allow participants to engage directly with the narrative, their movements around the well influencing the animated stories projected within. This illustrates the ongoing impact of historical memory and individual action in shaping societal values.
Inside the well
Animation Concept – “How Much is Life”
A single coin rolls through darkness, linking every scene like a silent heartbeat. As it moves, we witness fragmented yet powerful glimpses of human suffering:
the Holocaust, the Holodomor, the Chernobyl disaster, and the Kurenivka mudslide.
Each tragedy unfolds in visual metaphors — layered, emotional, but without words. Between scenes, the same coin keeps rolling, transforming briefly into glowing yellow forms — flickers of memory, resistance, or hope.
In the final act, a white stork appears. It picks up a branch and takes flight to build a nest. The camera slowly zooms out to reveal a city rising — a symbol of collective rebirth.
The coin falls, just as at the beginning. It spins, then lands.
A question appears: “How much is life?”
Gallery
Team:
Conceived by lead artist Yaroslav Korets, and brought to life with co-artists:
Dmytro Pavlenko, Marina Malyarenko ( Performance)Khorimarko Olha (Illustrations, animation concept)Danylo Reznychenko, Anton Matiash, Anastasia Neverzhytska (Animation)Ivan Alexeev (music)George Krieger (drone shootings)