Living Memory of Kapytolivka

This six-month practice is dedicated to gathering and systematizing the oral testimonies of individuals connected to the village of Kapytolivka in the Kharkiv region, which experienced occupation in 2022. Researchers record personal narratives through in-person interviews with residents in the village, as well as via online sessions with those displaced to other regions of Ukraine or abroad. Special attention is given to non-official history: memories of family traditions, holidays, everyday labor, and comparative accounts of the Second World War and recent wartime events. The collected audio and video materials are meticulously transcribed and digitized, creating a detailed historical record for future generations.

Over the course of six months, we spend time listening to and recording the memories of people connected to the village of Kapytolivka. Most of these conversations take place in person with long-time residents, while others happen online with those who have been displaced to other parts of Ukraine or abroad since the full-scale invasion.

We are interested in the stories that rarely find their way into official histories: memories of everyday life, family traditions, local customs, work, celebrations, and the small details that shape a sense of belonging to a place. Particular attention is given to recollections of the Second World War and to personal experiences of the occupation of Kapytolivka in 2022.

Alongside these conversations, we regularly work with archival materials in Kharkiv, tracing fragments of the village's past and learning more about the families who have lived there across generations. Moving between archival records and living memory allows different layers of the village's history to speak to one another.

After this period of listening, travelling, and research, we devote time to organizing and digitizing the collected materials. Our intention is to create a carefully preserved collection of voices, memories, and family histories that remain accessible to future generations and help maintain a connection to a place that has been profoundly affected by war and displacement.

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