“Sensation. Bombardier’s Shot”
7.7.2025
On July 4, the Department of Fine and Decorative Arts participated in the organization and grand opening of a unique historical and art exhibition entitled “Sensation. Bombardier’s Shot.”
The exhibition is located in the Kultura art space in Poltava and presents little-known photographic evidence from American archives – aerial photographs of Poltava in 1944, taken during Operation Frantic.
The author of the photographs is US Air Force Lieutenant Donald Borbee, a B-17 bomber who was in Poltava in 1944 and took aerial photographs of the city after the active fighting of World War II.
The peculiarity of the exhibition is the combination of war chronicle and the daily life of the townspeople. The photographs include shots of everyday life recorded from a height, as well as images of lost buildings, information about which was not previously preserved in open sources. This makes the exhibition a valuable discovery not only for art, but also for the history and architecture of Poltava.
The artistic and technical implementation of the exhibition was carried out by:
- Associate Professor of the Department of Fine and Decorative Arts Artur Aroian – curator and author of the exhibition concept;
- 3rd year student Khrystyna Shevchenko – preparation of photos for printing;
- graduate of the Department Nadiia Zaichenko and 3rd year student Alina Malovana – artistic design of the entrance group;
- Associate Professor of the Design Department Konstantin Tregubov – assistance in preparing the exhibition space.
We invite all lovers of history, art and photodocumentary to visit this unique exhibition!
“Sensation. Bombardier’s Shot” is not only a photo view from the past, but also an opportunity to look into the face of a city that is no longer there, but which is forever engraved in the memory of generations.
The exhibition continues in the art space “Culture”, Poltava. Don’t miss it!
Department of Fine and Decorative Arts
