Photographer and visual artist, Viktoria Chikalo, partnered with the charity UAID to raise donations for Unbroken, a charity in Ukraine that has been helping civilians in the shadow of war. 

UAID hosted an art exhibit at OPEN Ealing Arts Centre at Ealing Broadway, featuring Viktoria's works including award-winning portraits.

Viktoria set up a studio to share portraits of attendees who were encouraged to donate generously to the cause. 

"The main aim for this project is to deliver this specific message that we all deserve to be seen and allow others to see and understand our feelings of joy and pain," said the artist. 

Viktoria used to work in marketing before making the switch to photography full-time (credti: Viktoria Chikalo).

Although the exhibit was planned at short notice, Viktoria said she did not mind as the event was "metaphoric" for her. In addition to her birthday, she was marking the death anniversary of her father who passed away in Lviv last year. 

"Last year I was celebrating because I didn't know. I came to know about it a day later. So, this year, I would like to celebrate (my father) because I feel like he deserved to be seen.

"He had a passion for photography, but he wasn't a professional and he couldn't express himself and be himself almost his entire life," she said. 

Viktoria said photography helped her cope during times of personal grief and find authenticity. Her portraiture style is more intuitive than instructive. 

Viktoria was born in Ukraine and moved to London in 2022 (credit: Moiz Saifuddin).

"It's all about feelings and not controlling. I don't control my photo shoots. Most of my portrait projects started with a conversation over coffee." 

Pivoting from a comfortable job in marketing to photography was not easy but she has no regrets as photography gives her purpose. 

Viktoria was going through a difficult time just before the war and the advent of war made her more vulnerable. 

"I remember my mind and my body resist everything. I didn't want to accept what had happened," she said. 

In 2024 Viktoria's portrait of British comedian Jo Brand (middle) was accepted as an award-winning image of the Portrait of Britain by The British Journal of Photography (credit: Viktoria Chikalo).

She moved to Oslo where she worked as a photographer and eventually settled down in London where she found the means of expression and acceptance. 

"Home is where you can be yourself. It's not about a place, it's about being surrounded by people who understand you. London helped me in that sense," she said. 

Viktoria plans to travel to Lviv for the very first time since the start of the war next week. 

"I plan to meet people and understand the stories they will share." 

Viktoria says she 'plans to meet people, see places to better understand and feel the impact of what is happening on culture and humanity as a whole' (credit: Viktoria Chikalo).

"I would not say my mother lives a normal life, she is used to living in such conditions but she understands this is not normal for anyone.

"The difference is that for me it is very difficult even when visiting Ukraine...but I decided I want to do this and share my findings with everyone." 

The photographer intends to continue hosting the project in the future and develop it in different ways.

To find out more about Viktoria Chikalo's works, click here and to support her, visit UAID here.

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