I am Ukrainian.
This means that my life, and that of my country, changed on February 24th 2022.
This year war came into my life, into all our lives, in all its most appalling
manifestations – explosions, rocket attacks, air raid sirens, horror, panic and death.
Like many of my countrymen, I took only bare essentials and fled. In my case,
these essentials were a few watercolours and other works of Ukrainian artists of
sentimental value. Two days later, we were in Romania, a country whose care and
warmth towards us gave us breathing space after the Russian attack.
I returned home after a few days to help save the work of Ukrainian artists from
destruction and looting. After several weeks of intense work, we volunteers were
able to send several items to London where they were successfully sold at a
charity auction at Sotheby's.
My Motherland, Ukraine has always possessed a distinct wealth of cultural
tradition, be it in painting, literature, folklore or applied arts. One of the greatest
representatives of our art is Oleksandr Bohomazov, an inspired creator and the
pride of our people. In his work, we see mastery and ambition, tragedy and hope
and I trust that our TEFAF exhibition will be another stepping stone to
international recognition.
For me, TEFAF is an oasis of calm, of hope, in our shattered lives. I am taking part
in the fair for the third time but this year is, above all others, the most important.
Katia Vozianova
Kyiv Representative, James Butterwick.
Image: Dacha – Boyarka, 1914. See page 29
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