Shulga Iuliia

“One of my favorite Ukrainian words is ВОЛЯ (volya). It means both “will” and “freedom” and is believed to be encrypted not only into the national coat of arms (tryzub, the trident), but also deeply rooted into the Ukrainian identity.

Ukrainian fight for independence has been lasting for centuries and now it goes through one of the hardest times. Despite daily attacks (and this very minute as well – May 2023), acts of terrorism and genocide against the Ukrainian nation, I truly hope and believe that my people’s will for freedom will help us reach and maintain it. Soon enough.

In the fall of 2022, quite unexpectedly for myself, I started making analog collages. Now, a large cardboard box of “upcycled collage materials” has been added to the two suitcases I’ve been living in since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. This store is made of magazines and newspapers, advertising brochures, old books, catalogs of museums and exhibitions. It is from this box that my magic begins: when the inner storm spills into the absurd and becomes quieter.

Collages turned out to be a kind of therapy for me, which helps to free my head and occupy my hands, better cope with excessive emotions, stress and anxiety. They became my new way of healing, self-discovery, self-expression and play.

My inner state, experiences, stories and what surrounds me become my inspiration. At the same time, I am fascinated by the metaphorical nature of collages, where everyone sees and pays attention to something different, and where the personal and personality of the viewer is highlighted on different levels. I hope that my works will be an invitation to the viewer to think about himself, his life, experience, and the world around him.”