It’s a pile of dirt with a bullet at the top. A brand of soft power that doesn’t embody softness, but functions as such. With a large assortment of materials that include bread and ashes, my practice is rooted in resistance, representation, reclamation of stolen culture, and memory. A quiet outward appearance that lures the viewer in with a clear blue sky that, if stared at long enough, is not so clear nor so permanent. Because ignoring war is a luxury only afforded to those not being directly bombed, my work strives to forge empathy for the invaded. It seeks to humanize the Ukrainian people to a global audience.
Along with reframing and providing the history and context that have shaped the nation. A history that imperialist practices have long sought to erase. The ultimate goal is for Ukraine to no longer be treated as an object but as a subject. A ground inhabited by living, breathing individuals, and not just a piece of land. With all the respect and deference a civilian artist living in the diaspora can offer, my pieces aim to advocate for Ukrainians currently fighting for the survival of our homeland.
Along with reframing and providing the history and context that have shaped the nation. A history that imperialist practices have long sought to erase. The ultimate goal is for Ukraine to no longer be treated as an object but as a subject. A ground inhabited by living, breathing individuals, and not just a piece of land. With all the respect and deference a civilian artist living in the diaspora can offer, my pieces aim to advocate for Ukrainians currently fighting for the survival of our homeland.