Artist Statement

My art is a bridge to Siberia — to birch groves filled with light, to my family, to my Slavic roots and the traditions that shaped me. It speaks of a place I long to return to, but also of my inner journey.

I turn to my origins: Slavic culture, the vastness of Siberian landscapes, and the world of nature where I feel calm and safe. Birch and birch bark — rich in cultural meaning — are central to my practice. In Slavic and Nordic traditions, they symbolize life, light, and feminine energy. Shamans burned birch bark to cleanse spaces before rituals, believing in its healing and protective power.

My work draws on this symbolism to create not just objects, but talismans — vessels of warmth, memory, and protection. I continue the legacy of my father and grandfather, both craftsmen and artists, working with traditional materials and techniques. For me, creating with my hands is a dialogue with the material — a transformative process that passes through me and becomes deeply personal.

Rooted in emotion and memory, my work is both personal and symbolic. It is a form of selfreflection — on childhood, home, cultural heritage. The idea of home — as a source of strength — runs through everything I create. I explore questions like: What defines home? Can it be created anew? What creates that sense of safety and belonging? In a global context shaped by migration, uncertainty and urban rhythm of life, where collective desires for belonging and stability grow stronger, these themes feel increasingly urgent.

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