A glimpse of Chernobyl

With much discussion surrounding the issue of the safety of nuclear power plants, and the recent chaos at Jaitapur in Maharashtra, Mumbai gets to see the works of celebrated photographer Robert Knoth who has sought to capture the tragedy surrounding the Chernobyl disaster

On the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster (April 26, 1986), Greenpeace India is bringing to the city Netherlands-born Robert Knoth's well-known photo exhibition of the tragedy surrounding Chernobyl. The accident occurred on 26 April, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine).

Annya Pesenko, in her room in March, 2011. Pesenko is now 21 years
old and has shown remarkable recovery since then. Even though her
tumour has not disappeared, for now her condition remains stable.

An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere. It is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history. Titled The Human Cost Of Nuclear Accidents, the exhibition carries images of people living in areas surrounding the nucleus of the disaster. Knoth travelled here in 2005, and again in March this year. His work depicts the continued slow poisoning of residents.

Among the photographs, the most well known are those titled Certificate No 000358. These refer to the certificate owned by Annya Pesenko from Gomel, Belarus, which certifies that she is a victim. At the age of four, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and operated on. Within two months, she lost sensation in the right side of her body. In 2000, she was diagnosed with another tumour. Knoth took these photographs when she was 15, and a month ago, as she turned 21.

Pesenko in 2005 (all photographs in black and white). On good days,
Pesenko was able to do some exercises with the help of her mother.
She was first diagnosed with cancer in 1994 when she was four years old.
This reappeared in 2000. Pesenko is routinely rushed to hospitals.
At night, her parents sleep on the floor next to her bed since Pesenko
has to be turned every fifteen minutes to prevent bedsores.
Pics/Robert Knoth/Greenpeace

At: 5 pm, April 24-29, Piramal Gallery, NCPA, Nariman Point
Call: 6622 3737