Born 1990, Rivne, Ukraine.
Visual art and performance.
Because of COVID situation, I became stronger.
Daria Pugachova
Since I work in the media of performance and video art, which is related to other people, COVID situation reflected on my projects and artistic practice. It also appeared to be a period of spiritual growth and transformation.
I realized and overcame my limits through acceptance of it. Finally, I reached inner peace, and now I am in the place where I have strengths to create and unite people in the medium of art. ‘PEACE STARTS FROM YOU’ – is something that I have known in my own experience during 2020-2021.
In February 2020 my friend Zhanar came to Kyiv to perform together. It was the beginning of a pandemic, but it has not spread throughout Ukraine yet. We filmed the third series of performances and hoped to see each other in the Summer – to finish the last part, where we will finally meet. In March I came to visit my parents in Rivne for a week. Because of COVID I stayed for two months in a hometown. ‘The Stone’ was created during this period. It reflects my inner state during isolation, the inability to influence the course of the events.
Spiritual transformation happened to me when I completely accepted the current moment living as ‘a stone’. In May I came back to Kyiv. I planned to film the last part of Unlock Performances with Zhanar. Though, our country was closed for visiting during the Summer. In October there was a little gap, when Zhanar could fly to Kyiv. We filmed Unlock Performances and ended seeing each other in Kyiv underground, wearing masks on our faces.
In winter 2020-2021 I took part in Artivism&Solidarity workshop. Artists and activists from CIS countries shared their experience in creating activist projects. I was inspired to continue the project 15 Seconds of You, which I started in 2019. I found the idea of uniting people with a message of peace is vital during the time of isolation.
#365daysafter art project
From 2020, we suddenly felt limitations increase in the world. Humanity experiences isolation at all levels: at the level of planet, the country, and personally. The world has changed, and we are losing our integrity in it. Is it possible now, being isolated, find a sense of unity and see our connections again?
15 Seconds of You is an art project dedicated to Earth Day and humanity. I was looking for a simple way to unite people around the Earth. So the idea of 15 Seconds was born.
‘Look into the camera for 15 Seconds while being silent. Feel peace inside and share it with the world. 15 Seconds of your presence will be seen by people from various corners of the Earth. They will feel that despite our differences we are all part of the one.
PEACE STARTS FROM YOU’.
In 2021 I’ve got messages from 14 countries: Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Australia, The USA, Italy, Hungary, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Ireland, China and Turkey.
Participants of 15 Seconds of You are people of different cultures, ages and professions. All of them are united by one desire – to live in peace. I collected their messages in Instagram and combined in a final video on Earth Day.
«My fellow brothers and sisters, love your neighbors as you love your self. The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace. So let’s begin peace with a smile»
Jo from London
Participant of 15 Seconds of You