Alexander Chekmenev

About Alexander Chekmenev

Alexander Chekmenev (UA, 1969) developed an interest in photography during his school years. His professional career began working in a studio in his hometown, Luhansk. In his free time, he particularly enjoyed photographing people in the streets and homes most affected by the economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet Union. After his military service, he worked as a photographer at the communal service center.

He is one of the iconic figures in Ukrainian contemporary photography. Since 1997, he has lived and worked in Kiev as a photojournalist for various medias. In December 2022, he created the portrait of President Volodymyr Zelensky for the cover of TIME Magazine.

Photographic approach of Alexander Chekmenev

His documentary vision is characterized by the unique and intimate exploration of the transition in the coal mining region of eastern Ukraine in the 1990s. Much of his work constitutes a unique archive of the Donbass region, illustrating the social and political situation of those years.

Alexander Chekmenev currently covers the country's situation, documenting recent events and their consequences, from the Euromaidan to the ongoing Russian aggression war. He creates various series depicting these.

However, he doesn't aim solely to create detached records of the era; his primary focus is on individuals. He authentically portrays them, merging this with a genuine interest in personal narratives and a deep understanding of their personalities.

Exhibitions

His photographs have been widely exhibited across Europe in solo exhibitions, such as in Germany (Clara Maria Sels Gallery, Düsseldorf), France (Folia Gallery, Paris), and the United States (Blue Sky Gallery, Portland). Additionally, he has been part of collective exhibitions in Switzerland (European competition of documentary photography, Vevey), Poland (3rd Festival of documentary photographs, Warsaw), the UK (Third Floor Gallery, Cardiff), and even in South Korea (Suwon Photo Festival), among many others.

Art Book Publications by Alexander Chekmenev

Alexander Chekmenev's work has been published in numerous international newspapers such as the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, TIME Magazine, TIME Light Box, The Guardian, Vice Magazine, to name a few. He is also the author of several photographic books, including "Donbass" (2011), "Passport" (2017), "Lilies" (2020), and most recently "Pharmakon / Ambulance" (2021).

Apart from publications, Chekmenev won the Photographer of the Year 2013 in Ukraine Grand Prix in 2014. Additionally, his works are part of private and public collections, including "Mystetskyi Arsenal" (Kiev, Ukraine), Märkisches Museum Witten, and Ludwig Museum (Germany).