CHARITY FOR FREE UKRAINE
The war in Ukraine has been going on since 2014, but February 24th, 2022 was the moment when Russia stepped up its attacks. Residents of Ukrainian cities, who until recently had a roof over their heads, are now forced to live in shelters. Empty shelves in food stores, pharmacies and lack of water are among the few things missing during martial law.
While living in normal conditions and security it’s hard to imagine what Ukrainian citizens must be experiencing. With the escalation of the war, the immediate and very real threat to children in Ukraine has increased. Homes, schools, orphanages and hospitals are now under attack.
In no time, Poles united to bring aid to those in need. By doing so, it wanted to give a brick to build a wall of security.
The auction took place from 27th of February to 6th of March, 2022 on my Instagram. The entire amount was donated to help children in Ukraine, the UNICEF foundation.
The painting is in the private collection of the winner of the auction, Tomasz Olchowik.
The events of February 24th inspired me to create the painting „Thirst.” The painting depicts a glass from a popular IKEA store, half-filled with milk. Next to the glass is a box of milk, referring to the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The colors of the box in the lower part are a reflection of the Slavic folk costumes found in Ukrainian as well as Polish costumes. The shadow behind the milk box depicts a soldier wearing a helmet, while the shadow from the glass looks like prison bars. The glass shown in the painting is one of IKEA’s bestsellers, which is manufactured in Russia. With this element I wanted to draw attention to the greed of the authorities of partitioned Russia. Depending on how you look at the glass, you can tell if it is half full or half empty. We all have high hopes for Ukraine winning this awful, senseless war. Showing the situation in Ukraine with the help of everyday objects and a frame from the kitchen countertop is to point out how much such situations affect everyday life, how stress translates into doing the simplest things at home or work. At some point, we are unable to escape with our thoughts to a safe place, through the rush of information and danger from all sides.