In 2022, with the start of a full-scale war in Ukraine, saving children, I had to leave for Finland, stepping into an unfamiliar world and adopting the identity of a refugee. This transition marked a profound transformation, compelling me to leave behind not only my home and career but also the comfort of my native language. Before this displacement, I was deeply immersed in the literary arts, with a particular focus on poetry and prose. I co-organized a Ukrainian short story contest and reveled in the power of storytelling. Yet in Finland, the linguistic barrier became a silent wall; my words found few listeners, and mastering Finnish proved an arduous task.
Confronted with this challenge, I turned to the universal language of visual art. My background as an artist-decorator became the foundation for this shift, allowing me to communicate without words, crafting stories through images. Nature—in its broadest sense, including human nature—remains my primary muse. My work captures the shared human longing for harmony and peace, striving to unearth beauty even amidst turmoil.
Creating visual art is, for me, akin to composing poetry; it is an act of weaving narratives, not with lines of verse but with strokes of paint and textured mediums. Each piece is an experiment, an exploration of form and substance intended to provoke reflection and challenge perceptions. Through this visual dialogue, I aim to reveal the enduring quest for beauty and serenity, and the transformative resilience of art in the face of adversity.
I embrace varied techniques, delving into the unique strengths of each medium. Art remains my steadfast source of strength, a lighthouse of beauty and meaning during tumultuous times.