Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei: Open World

Open World, 2025

two-channel video projection, sound, 19 min

A few years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a boy who once fled the country returns through a robotic dog. His mechanical avatar wanders through his old neighborhood, visiting relatives, friends, and his childhood home. During this remote journey, he immerses himself in childhood memories and reconnects with his past. The work explores how children forced to leave their homeland maintain an emotional bond with it, and how technology, both a tool of war, reshapes their sense of belonging and resilience.

Directed and Filmed by

Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Khimei

Protagonist

Yaroslav Adamov

Cast

Natalia Adamova

Rodion Adamov

Misha Burtsev

Danyl Zinchenko

Nazar Zinchenko

Adrian Rejdak

Editors:

Roman Khimei, Yarema Malashchuk, Phillip Sotnychenko

Sound

Andrii Borysenko

Oleh Holoveshkin

Colorist

Vadym Khudoliy

Сasting

Valeriia Sochyvets

Graphic Design

Ostap Yashchuk

Line Producers

Tetyana Pidgaina

Iryna Borkovska

Sound on Set

Kateryna Herasymchuk

Produced by

Alina Gorlova, Roman Khimei, Yarema Malashchuk

Special Thanks to

Adam Simons, Amy Kim, Chloe Hodge, Chus Martinez,

Khortytsia National Training and Rehabilitation Academy

Technical Support

Brit Alliance

Burevii, Ukrainian Military Technologies

Commissioned by

RIBBON International and Thyssen-Bornemisza Contemporary for the 36th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts

Supported by

Pontevedra Biennial

Production by

TABOR