WHILE MEN ARE AT WAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sergey Bratkov (1960) was born in Kharkiv, an engineer by training. At first, photography was one of many art mediums he used. Beginning with painting, performance, and installation, he now combines photography and video. In the 1990s he worked with Boris Mikhailov and other artists in Kyiv, but it was a particular series of photos that propelled him to wider renown and controversial notoriety. Produced as the commissions for a child model agency, the Kids series brought accusations of at least ambiguity and even paedophilia. In fact, the children were prepared for the sessions by their parents, who tried to give them the most adult, sexual appearance possible. Though these photographs delve into universal themes, such as desire and transgression, equally important is their context: life in post-communist society, where everything is for sale. This connection often appears in Bratkov’s work, notably the Secretaries and Army Girls series.