Testament '22

Title: Testament '22

Photographer(s): Byron Smith

Writer(s): Igor Kossov

Designer(s): Mattias Amnas

Publisher(s): Verlag Kettler, Dortmund, Germany

Year: 2024

Print run:

Language(s): English

Pages: 180

Size: 19 x 25 cm

Binding: Hardcover

Edition:

Print: Druckerei Kettler Bönen, Germany

Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Ukraine,2022

ISBN: 978-3-98741-139-7

https://www.verlag-kettler.de/en/books/byron-smith/

*Testament ’22* is Byron Smith’s powerful debut monograph, documenting his 10,000-mile photographic odyssey through the first year of the war in Ukraine, following Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Inspired by the literary legacy of Taras Shevchenko, Smith captures an intimate yet multifaceted portrait of a nation at war.

His uncompromising images bear witness to the staggering human cost — grieving mothers, communities shattered amidst the rubble — whilst celebrating Ukraine’s tenacious spirit as it endures an unspeakable tragedy. From the devastated suburbs of Kyiv to newly liberated villages, Smith’s black-and-white and colour photographs, of poignant beauty, ensure that these sacrifices are not forgotten.

Contributing to the overwhelming evidence of Russian crimes, these deeply moving portraits are accompanied by texts from *Kyiv Independent* journalist Igor Kossov, with whom Smith collaborated on reports from the front line. An essential reminder that the costs extend far beyond the battlefield, *Testament ’22* gives voice to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their struggle for their beloved homeland.