In August 2024, more than 725 guests gathered at Sydney Town Hall to mark the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, standing together in solidarity, pride, and unity. The event, organised by the Ukrainian Council of NSW, unfolded as a powerful theatrical performance sharing Ukraine’s history, culture, and resilience.
I took part in the program through live sand animation, accompanying the story of Illia — a brave Ukrainian boy who shared his lived experience on stage. As Illia spoke in front of the audience, I illustrated his words in real time with sand, allowing the images to emerge and dissolve alongside his voice. The story was deeply moving — painful, yet filled with hope for a better future.
Working with sand live on stage brings its own challenges. Under pressure, with nerves and lights, even something as simple as sand becomes unpredictable — warm palms, fine grains sticking to skin, moments that cannot be undone. But perhaps that fragility is exactly what made the experience so honest.
Illia’s story was shared with remarkable courage. At just twelve years old, he stood before the audience to tell the truth of what he had lived through. A video of this performance is available, featuring Illia Kyrychenko, with sand animation by Tetiana Koldunenko, and script, direction, and filming by Kateryna Kyrychenko.
It was an honour to be part of a moment where story, image, and human strength met on one stage.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined the workshop! I’m so proud of the beautiful creations you brought to life and all that you achieved with your creativity. A special shoutout to Sandy Bake Shop for hosting us in such a lovely space — your warm and welcoming environment made the day even more enjoyable. And of course, thank you to Nataliya Bake For Ukraine for the delicious sweet treats — you added that extra touch of magic to our day! It was such a joy to share this creative experience with you all. I can’t wait for the next one!
10 July 2026
I am delighted to share that two of my artworks have been selected for The Language of Flowers, a curated group exhibition at & Something Else, a new contemporary gallery in the heart of Manly on Sydney's Northern Beaches. I am grateful for the opportunity to exhibit alongside a talented group of Australian artists. The Language of Flowers celebrates the beauty and symbolism of flowers, inviting to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world through botanical forms. The exhibition brings together diverse artistic approaches inspired by growth, renewal, transformation, and the fleeting beauty of flowering life. As an artist, nature has always been at the heart of my practice. I am excited to contribute to this conversation through my selected works. See more here: https://www.andsomethingelse.com.au/language-of-flowers The Language of Flowers Exhibition Dates: 10 July – 2 August 2026
