At the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Memorial, French-Ukrainian photographer Youry Bilak presents his exhibition "Scenes from the Front," maintaining direct contact with a priest near Kiev to document the ongoing war in Ukraine through images and faith. His work serves as an urgent reminder not to forget the Ukrainian conflict amid growing international fatigue.
On this October morning, Bilak appears anxious and keeps checking his phone constantly. The photographer finds himself at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette alongside chaplain Jean-Marie Reversé, attempting to reach Father Serhiy, one of his contacts in Ukraine located in the Kiev region. The area had been bombed by drones the previous evening, leaving the priest without power or water as he searches for network coverage to make contact.
After several attempts, the connection is finally established. Father Serhiy appears via video conference, looking exhausted but providing reassuring news before answering questions. He is located in a monastery next to a memorial wall that he initiated, featuring portraits and names of victims from the current conflict.
When asked about the difficulty of fulfilling his role and providing help during these challenging times, Father Serhiy responds candidly: "Priests are also human beings and they themselves seek support from those around them. Currently, the Ukrainian people have more confidence in the armed forces than in priests, and the priests also support the army." His words deeply move Jean-Marie Reversé, who draws parallels to World War I, noting that "it was the same 100 years ago – priests were present and accompanied soldiers to the end, and today they still support the troops."
Father Serhiy explains that he regularly checks on soldiers and provides updates to their families. Jean-Marie Reversé mentions that a mass was planned that day with his Ukrainian counterpart at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, but the current conflicts prevented this from happening. The assembly then says a prayer together – the Lord's Prayer – facing the phone, with Father Serhiy participating from a distance.
Walking through the necropolis pathways, Youry Bilak cannot help but reflect on past lessons that are never learned. He declares: "The photographer's job is to bear witness. It's important that things are said. Of course, when a war lasts, it's difficult to hold attention, but getting used to horror is terrible. We must always testify, even if people are tired of hearing it, we must continue to denounce. We need to put a name to these facts, personify them, have a story narrated, and move beyond statistics."
Bilak then moves a few hundred meters to the 14-18 Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, where his work is presented to the public. This exhibition, titled "Scenes from the Front," consists of works created nearly 10 years ago in Ukraine, which was already in conflict at that time. The photos are printed on wooden supports using a process similar to religious icons. These boards are actually pieces of ammunition boxes recovered from the front lines.
What first surprises viewers is the aesthetic quality of these photographs. One image shows Father Serhiy in chaplain attire among soldiers, inevitably evoking The Last Supper. While this shot appeared "spontaneously" to the photographer, other images are deliberately posed and inspired by famous paintings, including Munch's "The Scream" and Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring."
This artistic choice is deliberately assumed by the photographer: "I understood that it was the human being that I was going to magnify through this series, the human being through whom we could carry the message of what happens on the front. I understood from the feedback of these soldiers that these images would become lasting. At best, these photos end up in archives, otherwise, most often in the trash. Ten years later, the works still exist and are still relevant."
The meaningful exhibition can be viewed at the 14-18 Memorial until January 4, 2026, offering visitors a unique perspective on conflict through the intersection of art, faith, and human dignity.
