Belarusians in Warsaw Opened an Exhibition for Legendary Photographer Johnny Cosmic's Birthday Without His Knowledge to Thank Him for His Work
"I tell them they'll receive gifts. And everyone gets tense," describes his work Belarusian photographer Johnny Cosmic (Ivan Smalyar). His exhibition opened in Warsaw's Community Cup on February 3rd. For Ivan himself, who has been photographing Belarusians at parties and other events for many years, and then gifting them the pictures, the exhibition was a surprise. This is how people expressed their gratitude for the photographer's birthday. Johnny Cosmic told "Ranitsa z Belsatam" about his work, and the event participants shared why they are grateful to him.
Photographer Johnny Cosmic (Ivan Smalyar) at the event in his honor. Photo: Ruslan Seradzyuk / reform.news
"Suddenly, at some point on Zybitskaya [a street with bars, clubs, and restaurants in Minsk], a guy appeared who would approach you and give you a printed photo. And you'd be like, 'Wow!'" recounts coach Andrei Tkachou, on how Johnny Cosmic became known in Minsk.
Johnny Cosmic himself tells "Belsat" that for him, photography is a way to say thank you to people.
"I say that you will receive gifts. And everyone gets tense: 'What? What gifts? Why?' But it's just a photograph," says the photographer.
Johnny Cosmic shares that he has already given away thousands of photos.
"All of us, people, walk the same roads and in the same places. You can photograph a person and then give them the photo, because we will definitely see each other again," says the interviewee.
Photographs can find their owners even years later. Poet and host Mikita Naydzionau says he recently received a photo of himself that was taken back in 2021.
"There were even records. In 2020, I met an acquaintance with his wife. I photographed them, and the next time I saw them was five years later at Slava Komisarenko's concert. Cool? Cool!" says Johnny Cosmic.
Photographer Johnny Cosmic (Ivan Smalyar) with his works. Photo: johnny_cosmic / Instagram
As for the process, photographing strangers is not scary at all, shares the photographer.
"Sometimes you can immediately tell if you can photograph a person or not," says Johnny Cosmic. "People are often surprised how you remember when you photographed someone, where that photo is. But for me, it's not difficult at all. For some reason, I really remember where we met, where the photo is. I have a joke that it's called photographic memory. But over all this time, there were six people I confused."
In Minsk, the photographer still has many photographs left. It would be great to sit with a box in the Palace of Arts on Kozlova Street in Minsk and hand out "greetings from the past" to people, notes Johnny Cosmic.
For this work, people decided to thank the photographer by organizing an exhibition, which turned into a big party.
"I think we in emigration sometimes forget how great we are. We stoop physically and morally, and forget how talented and great we are. And I want him to remember what a great master he is, what a maestro. I want him to straighten up and fly further," concludes gender equality educator and host of the YouTube show "Obychnoe Utro" Maryna Mentusava.
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