In March a small publication will be launched, containing the stories that I have been sent by Ukrainians and those based in Ukraine, who have shared their experiences. We are incredibly humbled to have been able to do this and to have been trusted by the individuals who shared. The publication entitled ‘Хочу щоб всі залишились живими. (I WANT EVERYONE TO STAY ALIVE.)’ is available to read here.

These stories were given via the anonymous portal (still accepting stories) set up by Nicola Anthony Studios in order to create artworks which give voice to Ukraine, and hear individual people rather than of the statistics we hear in the news.

During the course of collecting stories we realised that disseminating these stories and letting them be heard as widely as possible was important. So rather than just becoming part of a sculpture (where part of its nature is abstraction), they are also presented in a publication which will be given away free at the exhibition ‘On The Edge’ at Espacio Gallery this March.

About the sculptures:

I have been working on a series of new sculptures which respond to the theme of a world on the edge of uncertainty, with war in Ukraine and a global climate crisis. The sharp edges of life can stimulate us to create. Seeing fractures open up, we lose our balance looking into the abyss. An instinctive, universal sense overtakes us. Sculpting can confront inner turmoil or process crises, so we are driven to create in the wake of loss.

Artworks in progress at Nicola Anthony Studios, (c) 2023

See them at the exhibition in March 2023 - ‘On The Edge’ at Espacio Gallery