Ἠλύσιον

For the exhibition Ἠλύσιον, I chose not to present these works in a gallery alongside others.

Instead, I took them to Maidan Square in Kyiv, where countless soldiers are remembered.

Because my work centres on Viktoriia Honcharuk, I understand how deeply she was affected by the loss of her best friend, Lom.

In honour of him and the bond they shared, I placed the paintings in the very place where so many lives and sacrifices are commemorated.

Afterwards, the paintings were given to Viktoriia Honcharuk herself.

She deserves to have this remembrance of her friend not an art collector, nor a gallery. To me, art is about understanding life and the human condition. When you remain true to your convictions, art becomes a way of showing respect, especially in the most difficult of times.