Yelyzaveta Berestova BA IVM The name above reflects the idea of my SIP and highlights its sentimental value to me as a Ukrainian citizen. Initially, I wanted to create a zine that will be a collection of people’s memories describing their attachment to seasons. However, recent events in my homeland made me redefine my goals as an artist and the theme for my SIP accordingly. Now, my zine will be a compilation of nostalgic and wholeheartedly missed moments from the peaceful past (for the time being) of Ukrainians. I will be collecting stories of those who sleep in bomb shelters, were forced to flee or dedicated themselves to volunteering. Then I will turn these stories into visual narratives following the rules of reportage illustration. Things we took for granted is a project aimed at re-evaluating the values of those who live under a peaceful sky and giving hope to those who lost such privilege. According to my initial timeline, I was supposed to work on my prototypes In February and involve mentors for feedback in March, but things didn’t go according to plan. I overestimated my pace for this project. I didn’t take into consideration full-time internships, burn out and unforeseen circumstances. In the future, I will need to allow more time for the planning and research stage, which is crucial for any project. With my SIP, I felt stuck at this stage for a while until I started making mind maps in Miro. Writing down keywords and making links between them led me to discover nostalgia as the starting point in my research. I learned that nostalgia is not always a bad thing that drags you down with depressive thoughts, but it can also be a source of light and hope. Having read multiple articles on how nostalgia is helping ease the pain, I started talking to my friends from the war zone. Asking them to share their favourite moments from before 24th February and what they missed the most. I started hearing ‘thank you for distracting me, and ‘it was nice to put into words what I’m feeling right now. After talking to a few people and discussing this in the class, I’ve realised that these real-life stories, backed up by scientific discussions about nostalgia, will be the source of my research and inspiration for this project. Screenshot of my Miro board (research) As the theme of my zine changed, so did the layout. My previous inspiration for a neat silent storyboard wasn’t applicable anymore. That was when I discovered Liu Mengxia and her reportage illustration work. She manages to capture the spirit of large-scale events in one illustration. Her process and approach have inspired me to approach visual storytelling from a different, more holistic perspective. Her work also helped me realise the potential of my people-watching hobby and note-taking. Even though I didn't start doing my drawings yet, I'm intending to use her process and reportage illustration as a guide to my zine. I already collected enough stories from my friends and family to start putting their words into images and it's my next step in this project. Artwork by Liu Mengxia Bullring. Open Market, 2018, H 98cm* W 225cm, Mutiple materials Another artist whose work puts my mind into another perspective is a Ukrainian illustrator Mari Kinovich. She is in the war zone right now and somehow finds the energy to draw and voice her thoughts and wishes. It’s one thing to read people’s attitude to the current events in the news, and it’s a different thing to see first-hand how they are feeling. When the world is watching, how do artists respond to the war, what messages do they translate? All these details are crucial for my future outcome, as it has to reflect Ukrainian spirit and bravery rightfully. Artworks by @marikinoo on Instagram This project is about my self-discovery as an artist. Before I used to say, I didn't see any depth in my art, and I was afraid it was just pretty pictures. Back then, I didn’t know that the cost of my work becoming meaningful was higher than I could anticipate. Before working on this SIP, I didn’t think about making a difference with my art. I didn’t understand the value behind it. Now I found myself actively seeking to participate in social initiatives. I want to know how I could help my family back home, a family that is 38 million people now. The theme of refugees and the inability to go home is now my problem. And through this SIP, I will try to recover from this temporary loss myself. Highlighting the importance of small things, that we have access to living under a peaceful sky. I will try to reach the minds of those who didn't realise their privilege yet, because I believe it will make their lives happier and problems hazier. Bibliography:
The Healing Power of Nostalgia https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/nostalgia-science/ Art therapy with a young refugee woman survivor of war https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17454830802503453?scroll=top&needAccess=true How Nostalgia can ease the pain https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-nostalgia-can-sometimes-help-ease-pain Liu Mengxia https://liumengxia.com
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