Boris Mikhailov, born in Kharkiv in 1938, is a Ukrainian photographer whose work spans Soviet life and the social upheaval following its collapse. Using snapshots, hand-colouring, text, staged scenes and archival sequences, he repeatedly challenged official representations of everyday reality. Series including Red, Salt Lake and Case History expose poverty, sexuality and ideological control. Darwin selects Mikhailov for turning photographic imperfection, repetition and provocation into forms of historical evidence.
