“I could walk 15 kilometers to reach Kharkiv, but it took me, 5454 kilometers to come back to Ukraine. I went through 5 countries, with russia among them, to get back to my homeland. I could have walk 15 kilometers before the full-scale invasion.”

— Excerpt from 15 Kilometres / 274 Days by Yevheniia Laptii

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Yevheniia Laptii found herself just a few miles from her home and family, yet separated by the front line. To reunite with them, she undertook a journey of over 3,000 miles through Russia and four other countries.

A G E N D A showcases a selection of photographs by Ukrainian artist Yevheniia Laptii (b. 1992, Kharkiv), documenting the village of Cherkaski Tyshky, near Kharkiv.

Cherkaski Tyshky is central to Laptii’s work, both as a setting and as a subject. Just ten kilometres north-east of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, the village is home to her grandparents. On the first day of the invasion, it was occupied by Russian forces. Laptii, staying in the village at the time, lived through nine weeks of occupation before Ukrainian forces liberated Cherkaski Tyshky.

A G E N D A, is a new series of artist projects at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, that engage with global events and urgent issues of our time. The series explores how art can provide perspectives and insights far beyond the 24-hour news cycle.

Open Tues – Sun : 11am – 5pm