Dr. Philip Harris, lecturer in photography at the University of Derby, lover of tube amps, vintage technology and anything quirky or unusual. It’s probably why we are friends.
I recently interviewed Phil about his work Hymn For Ukraine. A key moment of this years FORMAT Festival and a reminder that Derby folk are just as capable as artists as our neighbours in other cities. Hymn For Ukraine features a growing cacophony of ambient guitar music where old school film projectors pass film through guitar strings to create an eery and powerful effect. The next exhibit is due to take place at dubrek studios on the 21st September 2022 (tomorrow evening!)
Phil describes the work as a “Visual and Sonic Vigil” for the victims of the Ukraine War, a war that has been dragging on since February and captured the attention of the globe. The Russian Invasion of Ukraine is the first war in Europe since 1945 and is one of many horrors for the world in recent memory.
Hymn For Ukraine: Siren Song has the soundscapes of war with the crackling machine whir of projectors and the dissonant, explosive bangs of film snapping against distorted guitars. However, the images displayed on these projectors are not ones of horror, but are of hope. Harris describes in our interview how on the morning of the Russian Invasion, Phil dragged himself away from the influx of news to his garden, where a tree had just that day begun to bloom. The film displayed at Hymn For Ukraine is images of that tree in bloom, giving the people of Ukraine and their countrymen here in Derby hope.
Phil tells me how the response from the local Ukrainian community has been really powerful, a local Ukrainian Choir sang the national anthem at the last hymn for Ukraine event, and as someone who was at the exhibition, I can attest to its raw beauty, and the pride the Ukrainians felt for their homeland. I urge anyone of all walks of life. If you stand against tyranny, and want to show the Derby Ukrainian community that you stand with them. Of course donate to the charity I will link below. But if you feel like joining them, myself and the people of derby in that “Visual and Sonic Vigil”. Come to Dubrek Studios tomorrow evening at 7pm. I will see you there.
Мир, любов і коров'ячі дзвіночки
(Peace, Love & Cowbells)
Oscar
Charity: https://www.razomforukraine.org