Vytautas Tower
In the second half of the 14th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, one of the largest states in the world at the time. Still, about 90% of its residents were not ethnic Lithuanians. In the Duchy's Ukrainian lands, it was hardly an invasion, given that the local nobility retained their positions, the management system remained virtually unchanged, and the state language was Ruthenian, which would then evolve into Old Ukrainian. Even the full name of the state was the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus, and Samogitia.
One of the references to that period of Ukrainian history is the Vytautas Tower in the Kherson oblast. It was built at the end of the 14th century as part of the fortification system against the Tatars, as well as a watch tower and probably a customs point. The high 20-meter tower ensures a good view of both the steppe and the Dnieper River.
In the 19th century, the defense facility was rebuilt into a water tower, and during the 20th century, it was abandoned and gradually became dilapidated. Only in the times of independent Ukraine since 1991 has the ancient tower been granted landmark status. Now it sits waiting for its researchers and reconstruction workers.
The Bryozone project
The Bryozone project was founded in 2013 in Odesa, Ukraine. The participant of the project, Hanna Bryzhata, works with vocals, sound artifacts, and cross-genre experimentation from the perspective of dub music. The name Bryozone defines the narrative of the moment of transformation from one matter to another, dedicated to the theme of synergy and synchronicity of things. In her practice, Hanna uses synthesizers, field recordings, and vocals. The latest album, "Eye of Delirious," was released on the Ukrainian label Muscut in 2023.
