In an interview conducted by Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Ukrainian artist and Art Navigator Academy student Sofia Vashchenko discusses contemporary Ukrainian art and the works of several academy graduates showcased at the ART KYIV Autumn Edition 2026 at Lavra Gallery in Kyiv.
The conversation explores multiple artistic projects that reflect themes of embodiment, vulnerability, wartime disruption, self-acceptance, and femininity. Vashchenko highlights Svitlana Glushko’s series *Another Reality*, which uses tactile textures and subtle architectural and national color motifs to create a safe, peaceful space away from the anxieties of war.
They then examine works by Valentyna Khmil, including the series *In This Body* and *New Wings*, which merge surrealist bodily deformations with natural, organic elements like flowers. These pieces address the psychological struggle of self-acceptance, the critique of unrealistic body standards, and the liminal phase of transition between past trauma and unknown futures.
Vashchenko also discusses a broader figurative series focusing on human physical experiences across various social contexts—depicting pregnant women, mothers, and individuals with diverse body types through rich shades of red that symbolize a vital passion for life amid crisis.
Additionally, the discussion covers Alina Lobanova’s ceramic-like, self-hardening clay sculptures featuring female faces illuminated by candlelight. Inspired by the reality of severe electricity blackouts in Ukraine during 2024, these pieces represent the emotional masks people wear and how warm candlelight brings facial expressions and internal resilience to life.
Finally, Vashchenko elaborates on the role of Art Navigator Academy. Founded in 2023 by Ukrainian curators Anna Avetova and Dasha Bilenko, the online educational platform supports artists, curators, and creative professionals through mentorship, professional networking, and programs such as the Creative Career Compass, helping Ukrainian artists navigate the international art market.
