Children of Vision
Children of Vision is an ongoing project based on my longstanding relationship with the Kiev Special School of Art N11 for Children with Impaired Vision and Other Disabilities. This institution is exemplary in its approach to creativity and disability; it allows children to overcome their disabilities and challenging social backgrounds to become independent professionals, including successful artists, musicians, designers, landscape architects and teachers. Photography enables me to connect with the individual and what makes us human, capturing the children's gaze, neither focusing on, nor avoiding their unique challenges. While doing this I'm also consciously looking to go beyond the stereotypical representations of Eastern Europe.
This project inspired my international photography platform for young people, supporting creative self-expression through photography. Find out more
Watch the launch of Children of Vision at the IV Educational Festival “Arsenal of Ideas” in Kiev, Ukraine.
"... in her series Children of Vision Alina Kisina now combines a documentary and a fine art approach. The focus of her work is the Kiev Special School of Art N11, which offers live-in therapy and education with a focus on creativity to children with impaired vision and other disabilities. Kisina, who worked as a volunteer in the school in 2003 and has done much fund-raising for it since then, returned there in 2016 and 2017 to undertake an in-depth study of the children and the interaction between children, teachers and supporting staff. Her photographs from the series help us see children who themselves have difficulties seeing and who convey an infectious radiance, comradeship, and warmth. Kisina’s photos show the children’s quiet determination in embracing creativity and learning which help them transcend their disabilities... "
- Prof Raoul Eshelman