In 2018, I was invited to curate and coordinate a cultural performance for a diplomatic function at the National Gallery of Australia, at the request of the Embassy of Ukraine and on the initiative of Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey. The performance was created primarily from Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey’s private collection, with additional contributions from the collections of Sonia Mycak and Roxolana Mishalow. I am deeply grateful to them for their generosity and trust.
This project was far more than event coordination — it was about giving history a voice. Every costume, ornament, and movement carried memory, identity, and meaning. My role was to carefully weave these elements into a coherent narrative that honoured tradition while allowing it to live and breathe in the present moment.
I oversaw the entire creative and organisational process: selecting traditional Ukrainian costume elements, sourcing authentic garments and objects from private collectors, and recreating historical headpieces and jewellery where originals could not be used. I wrote the presentation script to guide the audience through the story, and designed all visual and printed materials — from slides and banners to invitations, gifts, and calendars — ensuring a unified visual language throughout the event.
Behind the scenes, the work was equally intricate. I coordinated models and assistants, managed the careful transport of costumes and artefacts from Sydney to Canberra and back, and balanced countless logistical details so that, on the day, everything felt effortless and dignified.
What emerged was not simply a performance, but a living expression of cultural memory.
Before moving to Australia, I spent five formative years working at Edipresse Ukraine, an international publishing house. I began as a designer and illustrator and later took on the role of chief editor, alongside working as a photographer and illustrator. This period played a significant role in shaping my approach to clarity, storytelling, and creating strong, high-quality visual narratives. Between 2004 and 2009, I worked across a wide range of publications and roles: 2006–2009 — Chief Editor, Photographer, Designer & Illustrator, Fun Ideas (children’s craft magazine) 2006 — Designer & Illustrator, English Teen Club (English-learning magazine for teenagers) 2004–2008 — Illustrator, Horoscope (women’s magazine) 2005 — Designer, Marketing Department
In 2011, while completing my Master’s degree at UNSW COFA, I joined a student artist group called All For You (AFY). The group brings together artists who were studying at or had graduated from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales. Founded by artist Chi Da Kim, AFY included 32 members representing more than 20 countries, creating a diverse and international creative environment. That year, the group held two exhibitions in Sydney. The first, All For You, took place at Global Gallery in Surry Hills in July 2011. The second exhibition, Transcendency, was held at the Arthouse Hotel in Sydney CBD. These exhibitions marked an important stage in my early exhibition practice in Australia and my engagement with the local contemporary art community.
