Photographer Patrick Patterson holds up one of his photographs from his time covering the conflict in Ukraine. “To Live,” an exhibition of his work, is on display at the Dishman Art Museum through Nov. 2. A reception will be held at 6 p.m., Sept. 27.
Photographer Patterson to present Ukraine conflict photos at Dishman
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Patrick Patterson is armed not with a weapon, but with his Leica M Monchrom, a black-and-white digital camera, capturing the devastating scenes and consequences of war on ordinary people.
Patterson will present “To Live,” an exhibition of photographs taken over the past two years in the Dishman Art Museum through Nov. 2. A free reception is set for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 27.
Patterson started his photography journey when he was 19- years old, at Lamar University. Since then he has captured many difficult subjects such as forced immigration, Texas’ death row, and even the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Throughout his time at Lamar, Patterson had opportunities to travel abroad to places such as Afghanistan and India, but said he would always back down at the last minute. Twenty years later, he said he regrets not taking advantage of those opportunities, asking himself, “What if?”
“I’ve lived a long time in regret,” Patterson said. “Always reflecting back, asking (myself) what would have happened if I would have gone? How would that have changed my imagery? How would that change how I work? How would that impact my career?
“It’s hard. It’s a very lonely space to be in. It’s a very depressing space to be in, to wake up every day and always have that regret. So, when (Russia invaded Ukraine) in February of 2022, I said that I’m gonna go. And I went.”
Patterson traveled to Medyka, a small Polish village on the Ukraine border. There he photographed one of the largest refugee crises since World War II. After that he traveled to Ukraine where he lived for more than a year.
“Any new place that I go there’s a sense of discovery,” Patterson said. “Even in the midst of a war happening you’re still traveling to a new place. There was a sense of normalcy. I’d go to cafes; I would drink coffee. I’d go to concerts. But all that can quickly stop, with an air raid siren or an incoming missile or drone.”
Unlike some conflict photographers that capture the frontlines and the battle grounds, Patterson chooses to capture the emotion, and the consequences war has on innocent people. From the aftermath of children having to evacuate their schools, to the funerals of Ukrainian civilians, Patterson captures the scenes people don’t often see.
Patterson’s exhibition features monochrome images of the people he met in Ukraine. He said he shoots black and white because it is timeless.
“I mean, I see the world in color, right? I feel like I’m not distracted from what I’m seeing. That’s my reality,” Patterson said. “But I think black and white, to me, helps the viewer not get distracted from what’s happening, or it conveys a certain emotion and feeling.”
Patterson said he hopes his photos can help tell the story of how war can change people’s lives. His photographs tell the narratives of the survivors and the victims that have been affected by the war.
“Photographs are made with light, and it’s one of the few crafts and tools that can stop time forever,” Patterson said. “These images will live as long as someone takes care of them. “But these are real moments, real people, real places. And there’s certain sounds and smells that go with each of these images that I have with me. Unfortunately, the viewer doesn’t get to experience that. So, I make pictures because I’m hopeful that somebody will look at them and ask questions.”
Patterson will participate in a live panel podcast of KVLU’s “Bayoulands” at 6 p.m., Sept. 26, in the Dishman Art Museum Auditorium, as well as a lecture at 2 p.m., Sept. 26 in 127 Communication Building on the Lamar University campus.
The Dishman Art Museum is located at 1030 E. Lavaca on the Lamar University campus.