Anatoly Belov, George Babanski, “Lyudska Podoba”, performance
14 March 2024
POP UP, WEST DEN HAAG, ARCHIVE
Lyudska Podoba is the first Ukrainian pop-queer band formed in 2012. Since then, the project has undergone several changes in its composition, but vocalist and songwriting Anatoly Belov and musician Gosha Babanski constitute the core duo. The project emerged from the desire to tackle queer-themed pop-music in a time when the LGBTQI+ community, and gay themed art, were not visible in Ukrainian society. Lyudska Podoba emerged from Belov and Babanski artist and activist practices working to make visible the LGBTQI+ people using pop music as an effective tool for bringing people together and providing informal entertainment. Over the years, they have performed at numerous music events, music festivals, and art institutions in Ukraine and in other countries, including Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Austria, Poland, Germany, and in 2018, they released their debut album Volnidorozhkibarashki.