Orlando Museum of Art Showcases Work by 20-year-old War Photographer
The Rollins College student spent the Summer of 2022 documenting the war in Ukraine.
Orlando – February 1, 2023 — For nearly half his life, 20-year-old Benjamin Mack-Jackson has been dedicated to sharing the stories of World War II so that his generation won’t repeat the deadly mistakes of the past. He never imagined he’d find himself in the position to document a modern war firsthand.
In the Summer of 2022, Benjamin traveled to Ukraine to document the ongoing war and capture stories from soldiers and civilians whose lives have been upended by Russian aggression. With warped interpretations of World War II and denazification at the forefront of the false justification for Vladimir Putin’s invasion, he was drawn to the battlefields of Ukraine as part of a mission to preserve the past and document its current relevance.
Benjamin reflected on his experience with Lake and Sumter Style, stating, “It’s one thing to be a college student studying history. It’s another thing to see it first-hand. Now I’ve been confronted with the reality of war and, in turn, hope to be a better historian and storyteller. It was undoubtedly the most transformational trip of my entire life.”
As a filmmaker, author, visual storyteller, and founder of the WWII Veterans History Project nonprofit organization, Benjamin dedicates his time to preserving the memories of the Greatest Generation and giving the past a future, one story at a time. To date, he has interviewed over 100 WWII veterans. As a result, he has produced a feature-length documentary, Normandy Revisited, recently wrote a book, World War II History for Teens, and continues to educate with artifacts from the war through a traveling museum.
Benjamin is a junior majoring in International Relations at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. His work has impacted thousands of people worldwide, and he hopes his photographs from Ukraine will inspire and educate future generations about the horrors of war with the hopes of a more peaceful future.
The pop-up showcase, Ukraine’s Greatest Generation: Courage in the midst of Chaos, is presented by the Ginsburg Family Foundation. The foundation is also the presenting sponsor of Relentless Courage: Ukraine and the World at War, on view at OMA through March 26, 2023. Relentless Courage includes the work of five award-winning women photojournalists who are also featured in the photographic essay book of the same name. Published by Blue Star Press, sales of the book help support the work of combat photojournalists in Ukraine. Blue Star Press also contributed books to the Ukraine House.
Contact Maureen Walsh, Marketing and Communications Manager, for more information and press photos. Email mwalsh@omart.org or call 407-896-4231 ext. 233.