Category: Artist`s Stories

The creative industry has been hit hardest by the pandemic and artists have been the least protected from the 2020-2021 crisis. To overcome the pandemic consequences, there is a need to create a database of information material, the source of which would be the international experience of direct participants in the cultural sphere.

As a result, Kyiv NGO “Art research platform MOKONSHU” initiated the creation of a Library of artists stories and voices of artists from different countries and local contexts.

The pandemic experience research is part of the international art project “#365daysafter”, which brings together Ukraine, Croatia, Portugal and China in a joint study of the art of the 2020-2021 pandemic period, which has already involved more than 200 artists born and/or living in one of these countries. An important part of the art project are stories of creative experience of the COVID period from each participant, describing, characterizing and documenting the last year, through which we can remove the walls of social isolation built by the pandemic.

Maryna Handysh (UKR)

Sculpture Pandemic time is a time of deep immersion in yourselfself, establishing a connection with yourselfself Maryna Handysh … nighttime. Inevitability floods from to as rain. I’m ready to bear what comes. While I’m asleep, reality looms over me. And I feel helpless in the face of all this, and there is nowhere I can… Continue reading Maryna Handysh (UKR)

Yuliia Shemenova (UKR)

Painting All my worries were conveyed in the paintings that became the archives of that period. Yuliia Shemenova My story of the COVID-19 pandemic began in November 2020. When my family became seriously ill with Covid. The only way to distract from terrible thoughts and not go crazy in complete isolation was painting. This story… Continue reading Yuliia Shemenova (UKR)

Viktoria Ganhao

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine. Resident in Portugal. Painting. “Pandemic” year was the worse time of my life. Viktoria Ganhao As a person, the most valuable thing for me is freedom. Freedom of choice, freedom of movement, freedom to make my own decisions etc. As an artist I need the same to have inspiration to create.… Continue reading Viktoria Ganhao

Daria Davydova

Born 1984 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ceramic artist. …overall pandemic has no more influence on my artistic practice than the rest of limitations. Daria Davydova I got pregnant in 2018. In 2019 I gave birth to my daughter and then in 2020 the pandemic started. I was making ceramics within my body limitations while pregnancy, within… Continue reading Daria Davydova

Alona Shlapak (UKR)

Painting It seems that it was the pandemic that made me fall in love with people even more than the wound. Alona Shlapak Now each session with nature is a particularly valuable ritual that helps to get closer and makes you empathize and be in the moment, appreciate this moment. This work is from a… Continue reading Alona Shlapak (UKR)

Sofya Danilova (UKR)

Photographer …I personally wasn’t much influenced by pandemic… Sofya Danilova As all my artworks were digital in the first place, I personally wasn’t much influenced by pandemic. But I’ve seen what isolation do to other people — my colleagues, family and friends — and therefore felt a need to reflect on this massive shift in… Continue reading Sofya Danilova (UKR)

Dmytro Danylov

Born 1972, Lviv, Ukraine. …Therefore, for many artists, quarantine was not a waste of time. Dmytro Danylov During a lockdown, a person falls out of the usual rhythm of life, vanity leaves and he begins to indulge in contemplation more. Therefore, for many artists, quarantine was not a waste of time. I have created several… Continue reading Dmytro Danylov

Yevheniia Danylova

Lviv, Ukraine. Painting. Living in isolation made me delve into contemplation of living nature, the wonders of the plant world. Yevheniia Danylova The period of the pandemic became for me a confirmation of the words of the poetess Anna Akhmatova that there is almost no favorable time for creativity. I dedicated my creative paintings to… Continue reading Yevheniia Danylova

Anastasiya Bernie

Kyiv, Ukraine. Painting. What is happening in the world in recent years has pushed me to explore new topics and their disclosure in my art. Anastasiya Bernie Еvery woman has her own unique individual sign, her own special inner form, which reflects the inner state of a woman, her feelings, her experiences. #365daysafter art project