As a photographer and musician, I am in love with mixing ethnic elements from different cultures and exploring ancient places. These are themes that come back again and again in my work, and today I’m happy to share a little experiment with the talented model and dancer Tetiana Tesliuk in Egypt. This is the first in a series of photos showcasing Ukrainian artists in traditional outfits at landmarks around the world, during my travels this year.
I lived and worked in Ukraine for a few years and have been visiting the country for a decade. My wife is Ukrainian, I have family and friends there, and I developed a deep connection to the culture, especially their music and fashion.
That connection has been both deepened and interrupted with the start of the war, when Iana and I had to leave only 10 days before the invasion. We were lucky. Many of our friends had to leave their lives behind and scatter around the planet. Some joined the frontlines to defend their home. Some had worse fates.
This photo is very special to me. The last time I saw Tetiana was on stage in Kyiv, as I played for one of her performances. Tetiana is a world-class belly dancer specializing in tabla, which is my main instrument in Arabic music.
When she told me she was coming to Cairo, I asked her to bring a traditional dress, which we would photograph during her first visit to the Pyramids, the ultimate reminder that great cultures can endure the pressures of time.
So I share this image as a message of hope. When we connect around the cultures we love, those culture become a part of us, and - maybe even more magically - we become a part of them.
Oh, and happy birthday, Tetiana. I hope our next photo together is in Kyiv, in a victorious and peaceful Ukraine.
