Welcome to a special section of the exhibition dedicated to a remarkable chapter in Ukrainian cultural history — the Ukrainian Photographic Society, or as it was commonly known — Ufoto.
This was a community of Ukrainian amateur photographers from Western Ukraine. Its mission bring together those passionate about photography and to promote it as an art form among the Ukrainian public.
It all began in Lviv, in March 1930, when the first organizational meeting took place. After months of preparation, the society’s official charter was approved on November 9 of that same year.
The founder of Ufoto was Stepan Dmokhovskyi, a dentist by profession and one of the first Ukrainian photography enthusiasts in the region of Halychyna. He played an active role in shaping many Ukrainian cultural institutions.
Less than a month after the charter was adopted — on December 7, 1930 — Ufoto held its very first exhibition of Ukrainian amateur photography. For the members, this marked the true beginning of their collective journey.
These exhibitions soon became an annual tradition, continuing until 1939. Ufoto members also participated in international events — including the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933 and an exhibition in Zagreb in 1936.
But exhibitions were just one part of their mission. Ufoto was deeply involved in educational and cultural outreach: they held lectures, published exhibition catalogs, organized film screenings, and shared practical photography advice.
In 1933, they launched their own journal — “Svitlo i Tin”, or “Light and Shadow” — the only Ukrainian-language photography magazine in Western Ukraine. It became a creative hub for photographers across Halychyna, focusing on topics vital to national identity and artistic development. The journal remained in publication until the outbreak of World War II.
Ufoto remained active in Lviv until 1939, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Ukrainian photographic and visual culture.
In this exhibit, you will see original issues of “Light and Shadow” and “KINO” magazines, exhibition catalogs, participant awards, educational books on photography, and materials on the first Ukrainian film in Western Ukraine — by Yulian Dorosh.
Also on display are original photographs and personal belongings of Ufoto members, including Oleksandr Pezhanskyi, Yaroslav Koval, Yulian Dorosh, Yaroslav Savka, Danylo Fihol, and Oleksandr Durbak, along with photo albums and memoirs.
We thank you for joining us in exploring this luminous page of Ukrainian visual heritage. May this journey into the world of light and shadow inspire reflection, discovery — and perhaps, spark your own creative vision.
