manuel alvarez diestro captures kiev’s new developments as a visible metaphor for hope

manuel alvarez diestro document kiev’s urban landscape right before the war erupts

photographer manuel alvarez diestro never fails to capture the striking sceneries of urban landscapes undergoing changes worldwide. this time, in light of the devastating war in ukraine, he documents what he calls ‘a visual metaphor for hope’ through the construction of new development in the city of kiev. 

all images © manuel alvarez diestro

a photographic journey celebrating the beginning of a hopeful new era for ukraine

diestro (see more here) effectively traveled to kiev right before the conflict has erupted. at the time, he was invited by the molodist kyiv international film festival to present his new feature movie titled ‘trains bound for the sea’ to the ukrainian public. he could never have imagined that, a few months later, the city would suffer such a tragic fate. 

with his camera in hand between film screenings, diestro drove with his father on a memorable trip around the capital, searching for new developments to photograph either in the form of isolated buildings or in relation to the landscape. he mainly focused on the new districts on the other side of the dnipro river where most of the new interventions are taking place. 

ultimately, through his photographic journey, diestro creates a metaphor of hope celebrating the built environment in this extraordinary city. ‘I’m interested in how these structures shaping kiev’s landscape could represent the beginning of a new era for ukraine,’ he shares.