Memory carrier
2021 Photo, audio installation
When the Cossacks went to war or other countries for business, they took the earth near their house in a bag that was hung around their neck or put in a pocket. It was believed that the land where you are born helps, adds strength. On February 24, 2022, my country's people began to migrate due to the war. I also left the country due to hostilities. I took the earth from my father's yard. These purses have passed through many countries with me.And now for me this bag with the earth is a handful of memory: about my kin, parents, childhood, language, traditions, culture. Wherever I find myself, no matter how adapted to the new environment, for some reason, in dreams, events occur at the place of birth, I see people mostly since childhood.No matter how much the passport changes, and the registration, my place of birth is not only marked in documents, it is in my memory.
"Bunker"
2019-2020 Photo
The creation of "Bunker" stems from a deep-seated anxiety about the looming threat of large-scale conflict. As an artist and a woman living in Ukraine, I found myself increasingly preoccupied with thoughts of survival and protection. This installation is a manifestation of those concerns, a physical representation of the mental and emotional preparation for war.
This artwork is about the anticipation of a big war that will start in Ukraine and spread to other countries.
Even before the full-scale invasion, there was a palpable tension in the air. My work on "Bunker" began as a way to process these feelings of unease. I started to imagine scenarios of how to survive, how to protect my loved ones. These weren't just idle thoughts, but detailed plans that consumed my mind:
Where would we go?
How would we sustain ourselves?
What would life look like underground?
To give form to these thoughts, I immersed myself in research. I visited World War II-era fortifications, spoke with Hutsul people about their mountain hideouts, and even toured local bomb shelters. Each of these experiences informed the details of my installation, from the ventilation systems to the arrangement of living spaces.The film "Underground" by Kusturica also played a significant role in shaping my vision. It made me consider the long-term psychological effects of prolonged shelter life.
As a woman, I feel a strong instinct to protect and nurture. This installation reflects that instinct, focusing not just on survival, but on creating a semblance of home in the most dire circumstances. The inclusion of everyday objects serves to humanize the space, reminding viewers of the lives disrupted by conflict.
While working on "Bunker," I experienced a range of emotions:
Fear of the unknown future
Determination to survive and protect
Sadness at the necessity of such preparations
A strange sense of comfort in being prepared
As time passed, I noticed a gradual desensitization to the constant threat. This adaptation is reflected in the lived-in feel of the installation, suggesting both resilience and resignation.
"Bunker" is not just a personal work, but a reflection of a collective experience. It speaks to the shared anxiety of a nation on the brink, the silent preparations many of us were making in our minds and homes.
Even as I completed this work, I realized that the emotions it represents had not fully subsided. They had merely been buried deeper, like the bunker itself. The installation serves as a reminder that beneath the surface of our daily lives, these concerns continue to shape our thoughts and actions.In creating "Bunker," I hope to invite viewers to confront their own fears and preparations, to consider the fragility of peace, and to reflect on the lengths we go to protect what we hold de ar. It is a testament to human resilience, a exploration of our capacity to create home in the most unlikely places, and a plea for a world where such refuges are unnecessary.
