Barbara Hammer’s My Babushka: Searching Ukrainian Identities (2001)
Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) and the Estate of Barbara Hammer have made Hammer’s 2001 personal documentary My Babushka: Searching Ukrainian Identities available to view through May 30th. As the artist writes, this timely video “centers on the questions of civil liberties and cultural differences in a society beginning to open as one woman searches for her own ethnic roots, identity and family history in Ukraine.”
Barbara Hammer, My Babushka: Searching for Ukranian Identities
2001, 53:16 min, color, sound
The viewing period for this title has ended.
“The current news is full of Ukraine and the Ukrainians who claim it as home. However, many people in the world admit they know little of either. The video, made in 2001, provides a glimpse into the people who were struggling at that time for identity in a divided and economically depressed country.
Following her natural curiosity and love of adventure, Hammer went to Ukraine in 2000 to trace her roots and find family members. As with most of her work, Hammer wanted to uncover hidden histories, so she sought out information about anti-Semitism and homophobia among Ukrainians. Hammer discovered that old political, societal and cultural barriers were collapsing but without new ways to replace them. Fast forward to 2022 and we see ruin, death, renewed poverty, and destruction, but we also see strong people fighting for their country and their future. There will be many more questions for others to research and art to be made, but we felt it important to show this film now.”
- Florrie Burke, Spouse and Executor of Hammer Estate
Louky Keijsers Koning, Director, Estate of Barbara Hammer
2021-2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), one of the world’s leading resources for video and media art. As we celebrate this milestone, EAI will present a rotating series of video features from across our collection and publish a series of oral histories with key figures. To keep up to date on our anniversary activities, please sign up for our e-mail mailing list.