On November 4, Railway Workers' Day, the photo exhibition "Railway is Love" was presented at Kyiv Central Railway Station. The exhibition was prepared by documentary photographers Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov (LIBKOS photo studio) in collaboration with Ukrzaliznytsia. The project features railway employees of various professions and generations who keep trains moving even in the conditions of full-scale war. This was reported by Wave RBC.UA, citing press materials from the organizers.
People invisible from the train window
Kostiantyn Liberov shared that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he and his wife have purposefully been capturing the people who keep the country running. For this project, the photographers focused on those whose work remains invisible to passengers. "They go to work under shelling every day, and passengers often don't even see them from the train window. We wanted to highlight these very people," he explained. The exhibition showcases train drivers, dispatchers, maintenance workers, and other specialists whose work serves as the invisible foundation of Ukraine's railway logistics.
Railway dynasties: 27 people and 900 years of experience
A special place in the exhibition is occupied by photographs of railway dynasties—families where the profession is passed down from generation to generation. According to the organizers, 27 people from one of the featured families are involved in railway work, with a combined work experience exceeding 900 years. During the photo sessions, the authors documented stories about decades of service, friendships formed through the profession, and how the railway became not just a job for entire clans, but a core part of their identity.
Visual language: a nod to Heorhiy Narbut
Vlada Liberova noted that it was fundamentally important for the authors to convey the railway workers' sincere pride in their work: "These people are genuinely proud of what they do, and it was important to us that this pride was visible in every photo." A distinct element of the exhibition is the large inscription "Railway is Love," executed in a font inspired by the work of Heorhiy Narbut, a graphic artist who laid the foundations for the visual language of Ukrainian statehood. This design choice links the modern documentary project with the historical tradition of Ukrainian graphic design.
Where and until when to see the exhibition
The exhibition is located at the pedestrian bridge between the Central and Southern railway stations in Kyiv and will be open to visitors until December 5. Admission is free. The exhibition has become one of the central cultural events dedicated to Railway Workers' Day and continues the series of LIBKOS documentary projects focused on the people who keep the country functioning in times of war.
