Everything for Everybody – exhibition explores archiving in times of war 

A new exhibition drawing on the research of St Andrews academics and a key part of the University of St Andrews’ photographic archive has opened in Dundee.   

Everything for Everybody unites works by contemporary artists exploring the politics and practices of archiving during times of war and extreme crisis – Katya Buchatska, Lia Dostlieva, Sophia Gera and Kamila Yanar, Yana Kononova, Elias Parvulesco, Adrian Pepe, Clemens Poole, Selma Selman, Tako Taal and Ola Yeriemieieva – alongside the Franki Raffles Photography Collection at the University of St Andrews and the Mykola Bilokon photographic archives held by the Pokrovsk Historical Museum.  

In doing so, this Generator Projects Takeover exhibition thinks about shifting archival landscapes, asking: whose stories are we archiving now, and for whom? 

 These works from the UK and Ukraine were brought together through a British Council project: Workers Lives Photographed: Approaches in Research and Museum Work.  

The exhibition was first presented at the Dnipro Center for Contemporary Culture (DCCC) in Ukraine as part of the 2025 Kyiv Biennial and is supported by the University of St Andrews, British Council Ukraine and British Council Scotland. 

 Co-curator Professor Victoria Donovan from the University of St Andrews School of Modern Languages, said: “It has been an honour and career highlight to work with brilliant Ukrainian co-curators and artists on this important exhibition exploring precarious heritage, cultural resistance to military violence, and community solidarity.  

“This exhibition was realised in the most difficult of circumstances. The works were installed by generator-light during the first winter blackouts in October 2025 and the bombing of energy infrastructures that winter meant that the show was often closed due to shortages of electricity.  

“I am delighted that we have been able to re-exhibit these important works in Dundee, and to bring this exhibition to broader audiences. From Dundee, the exhibition will travel next to Narva, Estonia’s most eastern city on the border with Russia, where its story will continue to be reinterpreted in new ways”.   

The exhibition runs until September 25 and is open Wednesday-Sunday from noon to 5pm at Generator Projects, 25/26 Mid Wynd Industrial Estate, Dundee, DD1 4JG.