Being part of the Heartlands multimedia performance at Cell Block Theatre, Sydney, was a true privilege and an honour. It was a project driven by an incredibly motivated and generous team — a real dream team — and the result was powerful. A person, who came up with the idea of this unique event never held in Sydney before, creative director and producer of Heartlands – Linda Gough.
For this performance, I created the artwork of a golden wheat field rising from black soil. Ukraine is often called the breadbasket of Europe, and its fertile land has long nourished not only grain, but literature, music, and cultural memory. This image became the visual heart of the event, reflecting both abundance and endurance.
Heartlands offered audiences a deep experience of Ukrainian culture through poetry, music, storytelling, food, and shared presence. To my knowledge, it was the most substantial Ukrainian literary performance ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere, and I am proud to have supported it.
My role extended across the full visual identity of the event. I created the key artwork used throughout all materials, designed print collateral including posters, programmes, and food signage, developed digital assets for multiple platforms, and contributed to stage design. During the performance, my artwork formed the visual backdrop on the large screen behind the performers, shaping the atmosphere of the evening.
Heartlands remains one of the most meaningful projects I’ve been involved in — a genuine fusion of art, culture, and community, and a reminder of how creative collaboration can carry both beauty and purpose.
My journey with oil painting began in year 7, when I was studying at the State Secondary Art School in Kyiv, Ukraine — a highly selective school that required passing three entrance exams in painting, drawing, and composition. It was there that we transitioned from watercolours and gouache to the timeless medium of oils. I’ve always loved this classical medium. Oils have a long and rich tradition in fine art, and I’ve admired their depth, luminosity, and the way colours blend so seamlessly on the canvas. Working with oils teaches patience and reflection — they dry slowly, giving time to build layers with care and intention. I feel incredibly fortunate to have received proper academic training in the classical use of oils, alongside in-depth knowledge of anatomy, linear perspective, perception principles, and art history. That foundation continues to shape how I see and create today, allowing me to appreciate not only the technique but also the discipline and history behind every brushstroke.
Pseudo stained glass is a refined decorative art technique that transforms doors, windows, and interior objects into luminous design features. Created with special transparent paints, this approach allows light to pass through the surface, filling the room with colour and creating a soft, fairytale-like atmosphere within the interior. When daylight moves through the painted surface, the colours come alive, subtly shifting throughout the day and enhancing the emotional quality of the space. One of the key advantages of pseudo stained glass is its ability to match and enhance the existing interior style. From soft, minimal colour schemes to more expressive, ornamental designs, each piece is created in dialogue with the architecture, materials, and colour palette of the room. The artwork becomes an integrated part of the interior rather than a separate decorative element. Pseudo stained glass works beautifully as an accent feature or as a focal point, adding depth, warmth, and a sense of wonder. It is particularly effective in spaces where natural light plays an important role, turning everyday architectural elements into sources of colour and atmosphere.
