The war that stays invisible: exploring Poland and Moldova
How the Russian invasion shows itself in the border regions – and at the same time stays hidden. Pictures from the threshold of Europe.
By Ludwig Nikulski
Nothing has changed, says a hotelier in eastern Poland. Everything has changed, says a border guard. The photographer Ludwig Nikulski travelled with his large-format camera along Ukraine’s external borders. No one there can say how much longer the war raging in Ukraine will remain unnoticeable in Poland and the Republic of Moldova. ‘I show places the war seems to pass by. Places where all could still be well with the world. But it is not,’ is how Ludwig Nikulski describes the atmosphere of his pictures.
Of his photographic approach, Ludwig Nikulski writes: ‘I am pursuing something absurd. I have to do it. There is a certain degree of darkness, memories, confusion that go right up to the border in order to reveal something no one can see. But it exists. Somewhere. With the loss of factual information, something hidden wants to be discovered so that it can resonate in the world. That is what I try to do with photography.’ With this work, Ludwig Nikulski won the photography category of the Willi Münzenberg Forum’s art competition.
Wasya taking a break.
Wasya takes a break.
Blocked entrance of the Humanitarian Aid Center at the former Tesco Supermaket in Przemysl.
The entrance to a humanitarian aid centre in the former Tesco supermarket in Przemyśl is blocked.
Construction site of a church.
Building site: a church.
Tree in Hureczko
A tree in Hureczko.
Hotel and military vehicles
Military vehicles in a hotel car park.
Oskar at the football field
Oskar on the football pitch.
Sergei at the pool table.
Serghei at the pool table.
Playground in front of a World War Two memorial in Tiraspol.
A playground in front of a Second World War memorial in Tiraspol.
Industrial area of Tiraspol
Industrial estate in Tiraspol.
Self Portrait with toy gun
Self-portrait with toy rifle.
Burning tree
A tree on fire.
TV
TV.
Police presence at the hotel
Police presence at the hotel.
Abandoned caravan
A lonely caravan.
