Verses: A Family in Odesa, Ukraine
Sasha, who is HIV-positive, holds his 10 month-old daughter Masha. Odesa, Ukraine, 2002
Since 2001, I have been photographing a family in Odesa, Ukraine. The lead characters in my documentation are Sasha, Ira, and their daughter Masha.
This is not a story of quick change or fast healing. The story progresses slowly, yet it captures moments of family life and dynamics that cover a variety of situations and emotions.
Sasha and Ira were both diagnosed HIV-positive in 1998. Several days after I met them, Ira gave birth to her 6th child Masha. A year later Sasha and Ira were informed of Masha’s HIV-positive status. Ira has had 3 more children since Masha’s birth. Currently 11 children (including 3 grandchildren) live with them in their small home. The children range in age from 2 to 19 years old.
Masha is their first and only child who is HIV-positive. Watching her grow is not only a testament to her personal strength, but also a way to observe the program that gives her free antiretroviral therapy which keeps her healthy and alive. In Sasha’s case, it has become obvious over the past year or two that his immune system has been damaged for he easily contracts various infections even though he receives ARV therapy.
I am a photographer who quietly observes. It is my goal to remain truthful, yet create an emotional narrative that focuses on a spectrum of emotions that arise during times of uncertainty as well times of calmness. For me, it is the smallest human gesture combined with a quality of light and composition that allows my photographs to tell a tender and emotive truth.
