On 10 September, the «Half Life – Chornobyl» photography exhibition opened at the Gaswerkareal cultural space in Schaffhausen. The exhibition is a major project by Berlin-based photographer Volker Kreidler, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster and to contemporary Ukraine.

The exhibition brings together photographs taken in 1995, 2015 and 2025/2026, portraying Ukraine across three decades – from the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster to the lives of people living through Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

A special place in the project is given to the photobook «Chornobyl», created by Volker Kreidler in collaboration with Ukrainian-Swiss journalist Sascha Britzko. Sascha Britzko authored the texts and reports based on interviews with Ukrainians whose personal stories complement the photographs and give them a profound human dimension.

The opening also featured a documentary video capturing the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the voices of those who have witnessed it.

Our sincere thanks go to the organisers, Volker Kreidler, curator Jan Thomi, Sascha Britzko and all the guests who contributed to this important evening. Special thanks go to the «Svitanok» ensemble from Schaffhausen for their moving performance, which became a symbol of vibrant Ukrainian culture and resilience.

The exhibition runs until 18 October 2026.