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Babyn Yar

Hi Jonny,
This is great,
See you tomorrow,

Sara

text and Image
Photo essays.


Babyn Yar,
Exploring the edges of Kyiv.
The darkest place on earth.

On the first Saturday I was in Kyiv, I
went on a visit to Babyn Yar, an area north
of the city. I had found information in my
guidebook, the area if the site of a series
of mass killings. Most particularly, the
killing of thousands of Jewish residents
of Kyiv, on or around the second World War.
The area to me, felt like complete desolation.
One of the worst places on earth. I wanted
to get straight back on the Metro. And,
now, I think it may have been more
authentic if I had. An extreme, and
genuine reaction, to all I had read, and
my immediate feel and reaction to the
place.
I did a drawing of the memorial I went to
see. And I read my book.

I am, and was, left with the question.
Thousands of people were killed there.
Jewish people, and non-jewish people, who
were mistaken for jews, and other ethnic
groups. It is also the site of a former
Mental Asylum, it is a place with a
history of strangeness, capture, outisde,
huge numbers of people. Bodies, must still
be there and.
Now, there is a beautiful park. I can see
how, it’s important. For people to visit
and spend time there, the feeling, on the
edges of the city, the isolation, despair
and desolation.
As I was leaving, I felt it again, as I left
the park. I panicked, and found a route,
with other people, and landscaped footpaths,
back to the metro.
I regretted it. A false sense of comfort,
assurance or reassurance, my own feeling,
was stronger, if I had held it, and had
the courage to be with it.