A voyeuristic trip through Ukraine's surreal beaches
- Text by Biju Belinky
- Photography by Kirill Golovchenko
There’s an underlying psychedelia to the beach. The oversaturated red cheeks of pasty men, visibly lathered in sunscreen; women in multicoloured swimsuits leaving little to the imagination; children with crocodile floaties and bright blue tongues. That, and the heat, heavy on the skin and on the air, making everything just that little bit more surreal.
Kirill Golovchenko’s new book Out of the Blue captures that sense of oddity. Calling the seaside “calming and threatening at the same time”, the Ukranian photographer used a bright blue dinghy to zoom in on unusual aspects of the beach experience in his home country.
“You can find out more about people at the beach than at other public spaces,” says Golovchenko. “People go to the beach, take off their clothes, lie down next to other people they don’t know, swim, eat, tan, and drink… The more people there are lying on one level, the more join. Some parts of the beach are so hopelessly overcrowded that you can’t get to the waterside for all the beach-towels.”
“My images are what they are, merely windows on the reality of the seaside. Most images are direct observations captured using a camera: seen briefly, and then they’re over. I’ve always needed to be close up to people, to almost be part of them, which is like saying I was never just an observer but also a holidaymaker. One of them.”
This duality is present in his photos, which feel like voyeurism and holiday snaps at the same time. The dinghy’s circle frames scenes that might otherwise be seen as unremarkable and gives them a new, surreal, almost performed context: A headless sunbather, someone high-fiving a foot, a crowd gathering around a giant inflatable panda.
Out of the Blue is published by Rodovid Press.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Vintage photos of London street life at the turn of the millennium
London 1995-2005 — In her new photobook, Joan Piekny reflects on a decade shooting the styles and subcultures of the UK capital’s streets, just before technology .
Written by: Miss Rosen
Princess Julia: “I always state my age as I can’t believe I’m still around”
First lady — As the latest Artist-In-Residence of Huck 83, the London nightlife legend speaks to Josh Jones and provides a few recommendations and words of wisdom.
Written by: Josh Jones
A luminous portrait of Black life over six decades
Shared Memories — As staff photographer for The New York Times, Chester Higgins captured Black culture and spiritual connection like no other. A new exhibition celebrates his life and impact.
Written by: Miss Rosen
An intimate window into New York’s ’70s lesbian scene
We Others — An exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery combines Donna Gottschalk’s unearthed photographs of LGBTQ+ activists and friends, along with Hélène Gianneccini’s written histories.
Written by: Miss Rosen
A tender portrait of life and ritual from Mexico City’s streets
Órale — For the last six years of his life, photographer, collector and designer Michel Hurst documented death rituals, street life and religious pageantry in contemporary Mexico. A new monograph showcases his work.
Written by: Roxana Diba
In photos: Washington DC’s Black communities facing up to gentrification
A Language We Share — A new exhibition featuring the work of Beverly Price and Gordon Parks preserves historically Black neighbourhoods in the USA, before development and economic forces made them disappear.
Written by: Miss Rosen
