The LAnd is Yellow, the Sky is Blue
by Marc Wilson and Anna Nekrasova-Wilson
The Land is Yellow, the Sky is Blue is a poignant photographic project set in the small Ukrainian village of Balakliya. Created by Marc Wilson and Anna Nekrasova-Wilson, it began as an intimate portrait of village life but has taken on deeper significance amid Ukraine’s ongoing war.
The project captures the everyday beauty of Balakliya—children swimming in rivers, families gathering under fruit trees, livestock roaming the lanes. Yet, since the war began in 2022, this peaceful village has been transformed, with many of its men fighting on the frontlines.
‘The blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag symbolise the clear blue sky above the fields of wheat that cover our land. In the Ukrainian language, the concept of zemlya or ‘land’ has several meanings. It is the territory and the soil cultivated by the hard work of the people. It is the Motherland. Ukrainians have a deep connection with the land and the villages. We return to the villages to plant our ardens and harvest the crops together with our families. This is more than a tradition, it is an act of love, a show of our respect for our families and our native land,’ writes Anna in the introduction.
Through their book, The Land is Yellow, The Sky is Blue, Marc and Anna combine Marc’s photographs with personal stories of life in Balakliya during wartime, reflecting both the resilience of its people and their connection to the land. The book aims to show the enduring beauty of Ukraine, while also raising funds to support the village community. For every book sold, part of the proceeds go directly to Balakliya.
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Clothes hanging on a clothesline in a grassy backyard surrounded by trees and bushes.
An old, rustic room with two windows covered with lace curtains, a simple bed with white bedding, a table covered with a cloth, and framed black-and-white photographs on the wall and table.
A black and white diagram of a rectangular electronic circuit with labeled components and connections.
Logo for The Northern Eye International Photography Festival, featuring a stylized eye icon and text.
A woman standing behind a semi-transparent curtain with sunlight streaming through a window in the background.
A young girl in a white dress with colorful polka dots stands in shallow water at the edge of a lake, with trees and a bridge in the background, during sunset.
White bowl filled with water placed on a tree stump outdoors, with grass and additional chopped wood in the background.
A yellow book with black text on the cover and spine, titled 'The Land is Yellow, the Sky is Blue' by Marc Wilson and Anna Nekrasova-Wilson, lying on a white surface.
A group of white geese walking along a dirt and gravel road in a rural area with trees and farm buildings in the background.