Ladies of the 'Other 'UK: Pandemic Triumph Stories of Women Creators from the Ukraine (Part I)
Juliyah Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
During the two years stretch of the global pandemic, the world was in mayhem, the fragility of life was at an all-time high, and yet, somehow, those who made it through alive managed to come out aspirationally different on the other side.
The birthing of new skillsets, passion projects, and compassionate connections, as well as untimely and unruly wars, have led creators to awakenings from within.
In the wake of the Ukraine invasion, we had the chance to sit with eight women from in and around Ukraine, mostly, now living abroad, on how their lives have changed in isolation. This Photograph series, initiated and shot by accomplished west coast-based Photographer Aliona Kuznetsova, who is originally from Kyiv and is featured within the series, captures the essence of each woman as she narrates her inspiration around each virtual shoot. Each woman also shares their journey in their own words, and these are their stories.
Anna, Juliya, & Sequoia
Anna Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
[The] first woman I photographed was Anna Monet (@annamonetjewelry) - her first passion was gold and horse hair jewelry colored with natural dyes, but as covid locked her in her flat, she started to venture out into interior design (and currently getting an education on it).
TDO: At the beginning of the pandemic, what was your first thought as to your way of making a living?
Anna: At the very beginning of the pandemic in February 2020, I was at an arts and craft show in Baltimore and couldn't imagine that this would be the last show for nearly two years. The pandemic reaction was a strange mix of terror and stillness. In all honesty, I was burning out from running my business solo for then almost three years. So it was somewhat pleasant to be locked in for a while when I couldn't travel for shows, make hundreds of wholesale pieces for the first time in a bit, I could just be still. Then many other realizations came, one of them being that I have to give my body a break. I needed another outlet for my creativity that was less taxing than metalwork, and that is where the interior design came to the forefront of my mind. I enrolled in the Interior Design program online, took on some consulting clients, and focused on my home - creating the most healing environment to support my family's creativity and wellbeing indoors.
Anna Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
TDO: How do you feel being locked inside for almost two years has shaped and informed your new work?
Anna: I find that my recent work is changing direction. Of course, I'll forever love jewelry, and I plan to continue developing and refining my jewelry and accessories line, but I began to dream even bigger. Literally, I am interested in oversized objects that can enhance the home atmosphere and start conversations about sustainability and creative reuse. So that's where I am headed. With that said, during the pandemic, I did work on a new jewelry line - The Rebirth collection, based on ancient Greek jewelry and the symbolism of a snake. I wanted to create a collection that would inspire the wearer to feel even more empowered to come back to life and into the post-pandemic world with new energy and feel like a queen doing it. The Rebirth jewelry collection was a catharsis coming out of the pandemic experience.
TDO: What kinds of changes did you notice almost immediately when beginning your new practice?
Anna: I've noticed that I give myself grace more often. I respect the boundaries of my body, and I am more aware of when I am pushing myself too hard. I enjoy the slow process of germination of new ideas as this new work emerges, and I am okay with it taking its time. So often, we rush toward a deadline, with social media causing us to churn out work for validation at an absurd speed, and I want to actively resist that. I want to operate on a slower timeline trusting the process and not rushing towards a predetermined result. Now, how I do it is more important than what I do and at what rate I produce.
TDO: What makes what you do now, on the other side of lockdown, more special than you thought prior to?
Anna Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
Anna: I always thought of my work as wearable art. Hence, the nature of mixed media material, research, and years of practice in my work are essential to achieving the visual result that I am after. It is more special because I know that my line won't always be the same, constantly changing and morphing as I grow and change. So I'd say if you like my jewelry in its current variation, acquire it while you still can.
TDO: Would you say this sort of butterfly effect is temporary for you, or do you think you will continue to evolve in more ways? If so, how so? If not, why?
Anna: We all had time to think things through during the pandemic. Our thoughts change our behaviors, which I believe can cause a lasting change. I believe that we all learned that our environment is unstable and changing rapidly, and there is no going back. We are changed forever.
Juliyah Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
My second artist was Juliya ( @muachronicle). I think of all the professions makeup artists like herself took the biggest hit. To the question about how covid changed her practice, she said “Covid reminded me how special it is to create just for the sake of creating, without feeling the need or obligation to share it with the world. It helped me reconnect to making art from the soul rather than for the gram.”
TDO: In the beginning of the pandemic what was your first thought as to your way of making a living?
Juliyah: I am fortunate to have a decent source of income coming from my blog ads and social media partnerships. I just started investing more time into those avenues and also my podcast, The Makeup Artist Chronicle. I was fortunate enough to have that financial safety net but the pandemic did leave a bit of a vacuum when it came to creativity and collaboration.
TDO: How do you feel being locked inside for almost two years has shaped and informed your new work?
Juliyah: It made me even more eager to get back into spaces of collaboration. It also led to me expanding my toolbox. Prior to the pandemic, I would do makeup on editorial shoots, weddings, or private clients going to events. During the pandemic, I began to learn about TV and film makeup as well as pursue my dream of being a writer for TV and film. Now that I am back to collaborating with people in person, I’ve been acting in short films as well as being the head of makeup on one.
TDO: What kinds of changes did you notice almost immediately when beginning your new practice?
Juliyah: I always thought I was just fine on my own. I’m an only child and spent a lot of time on my own daydreaming and creating. During the lockdown, I couldn’t create. I was stuck. Trying to create in a vacuum made me realize that I’m actually an extrovert and I don’t enjoy being lonely or detached from other creatives.
TDO: What makes what you do now, on the other side of lockdown, more special than you thought prior to?
Juliyah: To my surprise, I really enjoy being in front of the camera and on set. I like being in the action. As a makeup artist, you have someone in your chair and it’s a beautiful time to get to know someone and be vulnerable but when they’re on set, you’re sitting around in the back, usually eating snacks and drinking a lot of coffee. I’ve always been shy and stepping in front of the camera has really helped me find my confidence.
Juliyah Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
TDO: Would you say this sort of butterfly effect is temporary for you or do you think you will continue to evolve in more ways? If so, how so? If not, why?
Juliyah: I think I’ve evolved too far from who I was to go back now. I’ve always loved to write and have dreamed of working in film and TV from the time I was a little girl. I took a real roundabout way of getting to where I always wanted to be but now my path feels clearer than ever before. Like anyone, I have off-days where I feel exhausted from the personal growth I’ve undergone but I always snap back into happiness when I get to collaborate with my fellow creatives. There’s a magic that exists when people create something together.
Sequoia Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
Next was Sequoia (@sequoiasunstudios). She found me through the gallery. Her life is busy as she is a scientist, an artist, and a new mom! When asked about the origins of her craft, she told me “I started painting and drawing at a young age with my Mom. She is the one who inspired me to become an artist. It was something fun to do together. We still go to art openings and draw together to this day.”
TDO: In the beginning of the pandemic what was your first thought as to your way of making a living?
Sequoia: At the beginning of the pandemic I was not thinking about ways I was going to make a living. I was very pregnant at the beginning of covid and was delighted that the whole world was going to take a pause in life with me. I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I put a pause on my career as a researcher and focused on my body, mind, and artistic expression.
TDO: How do you feel being locked inside for almost two years has shaped and informed your new work?
Sequoia Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
Sequoia: I never felt locked inside or trapped. I already enjoyed spending most of my time on the living room couch as a pregnant mama and spent my remaining time participating in virtual conferences, art residencies, painting, and spending time with family. We were always going on long walks and adventures. Covid was a time to retreat to all the good things in life and reconnect with what matters.
TDO: What kinds of changes did you notice almost immediately when beginning your new practice?
Sequoia: I wasn’t beginning a new practice as much as I was beginning a new life as a Mom. All of the changes were gradual and the world was being reborn with me.
TDO: What makes what you do now, on the other side of lockdown, more special than you thought prior to?
Sequoia: Being a Mom is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. My child is my greatest masterpiece that keeps on living and changing. I am grateful for every moment of my experience as a new Mom.
Sequoia Photographed by Aliona Kuznetsova
TDO: Would you say this sort of butterfly effect is temporary for you or do you think you will continue to evolve in more ways? If so, how so? If not, why?
Sequoia: I am always growing as a person and I will continue to do so. Being a Mom and an ambitious woman is filled with challenges to be solved. I will continue to dream of a wonderful future for myself, my family, and the world, and I cannot wait to make my dreams come true.