| On the cover |
| ¹29 (2010) |
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Backpackers and Trailblazers
A guide to Kyiv’s budget accommodation for independent travellers
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| 30 July - 5 August 2010 | |
| Special Feature |
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The Projection of Talent
Stepping up the search for talented artists to head up the What’s On Master Class, we came across a rather extraordinary band called Antenna. Now, we know what you’re thinking – yet another nameless group out of the myriad of Ukrainian bands out there... But this is where you’d be wrong, and we’re going to tell you why.
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| Kyiv Kino |
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Inception (in English)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller USA 2010
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable.
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| On the sofa with... |
A Clothier to the Stars
 I have known this lady for a number of years, but it was only when I started doing a little background on her did I realise just how significant she is in Ukraine’s celebrity circles. She has worked with groups like Okean Elzy, solo acts Sofia Rotaru, Ani Lorak and Andriy Danilko (better known as Serduchka), and even movie directors like Semen Gorov. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was the girl next door. I do know better, however, and getting Angela Lisitsa down on the sofa, What’s On gets the goods on one of Ukraine’s behind-the-scenes personalities.
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| Editorial |
From THE EDITOR (5) |
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 A trip to the Opera House always serves to remind one of how prevalent and accessible culture is here in Ukraine. Okay, so maybe the production values aren’t the best, maybe the choreography isn’t top-notch, maybe the male lead stepped out of his spins once or twice, maybe Spartacus is not the best ballet in the world, and maybe the trumpet got a bit over zealous come his big moment. But what does that all matter when seats in a box on the first balcony cost only 100hrv each? Production values in the west might be higher, they might have more time to rehearse, and musicians and dancers might get paid well enough to devote all their time to their art, but it all comes at a cost. The wonderful thing about all culture in Ukraine is it is accessible to everyone, and the performers and musicians work for the love of it rather than huge paycheques.
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Largely thanks to Hollywood and the commercially marketed nature of pop music in the west, performers across the board have come to expect massive amounts of money for doing what they do, but this is a very recent thing. Historically, actors, musicians and dancers did it for the art, and were never particularly well paid. Now, however, the chosen few make millions and those who cannot bring in the big bucks (not for lack of talent, but for lack of dollars put behind them by large corporations) don’t see the light of day. And classic culture, such as ballet and opera, follows suit. Critics lambaste everything but perfection, pushing up the cost of production and the wages for the very best. This might mean that the offering is better, but it also makes it far more expensive. The result is that those performers who are good but not perfect fall by the wayside, and the audience watching the perfect performances largely come from the elite class. It is not accessible to the general public, and it loses a lot of its merit for that. Here in Ukraine, culture still remains a very socialist affair. Performers perform for the love of their art, and for the acclaim, and audiences from all walks of life – from the very lowly to the richest oligarch – sit in the one room together and share the experience. Is perfection necessary? Is perfection worth the cost? To what extent does it reduce the value of the experience if the production values aren’t the best, the choreography isn’t top-notch, the male lead steps out of his spins once or twice, the trumpet gets a bit over zealous come his big moment? That which we love in life is often flawed. Life itself is flawed. We are all flawed. And the art we view should reflect this. Long may Ukraine retain its perfectly flawed and therefore wonderfully accessible arts.
Neil Campbell
Chief Editor
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| Kyiv Culture |
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On the Other Side of the Camera
 As one of the country’s most expensive photographers, and a favourite of Playboy, there isn’t much Oleksandr Morderer hasn’t seen. As such, it seemed quite natural for us to want to find out more about him. Unfortunately, a few years ago he suffered at the hands of a journalist who published some rather inaccurate information about the man. So while this sought after photographer was slightly reluctant to talk with us, we managed to win him over, and get the goods on his first earnings, who’s after the nudies and why he prefers to be behind the camera, rather than in front of it.
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| Ukraine Travel |
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Sleeping on a Budget
 Coming to Kyiv from various ports of call can and does include certain costs. You’ll be happy to know, however, that your sleeping arrangements don’t have to be included in your bigger expenses. The Ukrainian capital has picked up on the influx of tourists over recent years, and offering travellers a more affordable option when it comes to where you lay your head, the hostels of Kyiv are affordable, (mostly) clean, and open for business.
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