and fantasy sub-culture of Ukrainian railroads
Photo: Julie Poly
Interspersing fictional characters with real passengers.
Among the protagonists are businesswomen from the capital, village gigolos, soldiers, students, and ladies in leopard garments. The project was inspired by my own observations as well as by my real experiences.
Photo: Julie Poly
She describes the process in encapsulating this photo series: "In general, my art practice is about merging my previous experience in documentary and staged photography. I find myself constantly inspired by trivial things, everyday events, stories from the lives of friends, and my own experience."
Photo: Julie Poly
Photo: Julie Poly
That is hard to come by in today's headlines.
and raucous, joyous happenings
Photo: Julie Poly
But also on the more quiet and tender moments onboard that occur amongst the mayhem.
Photo: Julie Poly
Even these mundane snapshots show that Poly's joyous, extravagant world on the railroad has some ordinary moments. The artist's task is to seek distraction from unpleasant realities, such as the one Ukraine is currently facing.
with different desires and different tastes.
Photo: Julie Poly
After all, odds are one will never encounter these strangers twice in a lifetime.
Poly suggests an intimacy in the enclosed space of a train: "... [it] is intimately erotic primarily because nowhere in the world you will find trains where half-naked people travel together side by side."
in more comfortable clothes
Photo: Julie Poly
once they get in, change their shoes to slippers or lie barefoot, have dinner and a drink — all that in tight compartments."
Photo: Julie Poly
The book consists of 13 stories which are different characters going to a different destination. Each of these stories are accompanied by text written by Lizaveta Gottfrick and Olga Balenciaga, based on Poly's experience as a train conductor.