MIKOLA BOROVSKIY: “A Photoshoot Is a Sedative Transformation, Because a Person Plays Another Role — And In It, They Find Their True Self”

Mikola Borovskiy is a Ukrainian fashion photographer who draws inspiration from the depths of the human soul. He loves to reveal people in a new light, creating a fresh space where they can rediscover themselves.

A turning point in his career came when he stopped photographing only himself — as he initially started with creative self-portraits.

In our conversation, Mikola shared with Drive Music Media the story of how his artistic journey began, what he would never photograph, and details about his upcoming photo project.

Interviewer: How and when did your journey in photography begin, and why did you choose fashion as your direction?

Mikola: When I was a child, I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house. She was always doing handcrafts — embroidering towels, pillows, traditional Ukrainian shirts, knitting with needles and crocheting. I was completely fascinated by it all. I watched her closely and desperately wanted to learn how to create the same kind of beauty.

After I learned how to embroider and knit, I realized that wasn’t enough for me. I loved sewing. I loved cutting fabrics. I adored dresses. My grandmother had an attic full of my mother’s old dresses — and I took every single one down and cut them up. Around the age of six, I even cut up my mother’s wedding dress just to sew clothes for my toys.

Throughout my childhood, I was surrounded by the natural beauty of my village — and I somehow managed to catch every transparent thread of that beauty. But I had one problem: I couldn’t focus on one thing for long. I constantly wanted to explore something new, shift my hobbies, try a different path.

Eventually, at around 17 years old, I realized that photography was the one art form that could bring everything together — all my skills, all the visual ideas living in my head — and allow me to share it with the world. It felt like documenting my beauty, my subconscious.

Interviewer: How do your ideas for shoots come to life? What sets the tone for a concept?

Mikola: I never know in advance when or how an idea will appear in my mind. The images come spontaneously — like a flash, a sudden inner jolt. Sometimes they’re born out of strong emotions — whether joyful or painful. There are nights when I literally jump out of bed, run to my desk, grab my sketchbook and start drawing what I just saw in a dream.

I draw inspiration from everything: music, nature, scenes from films, classical compositions, or even modern music videos. But I don’t try to copy — I try to interpret, to bring something personal to the table. And sometimes, I invent something entirely new. I think that’s the essence of my creative process: constant experimentation, searching, and playing.

I’m deeply inspired by people — their uniqueness, their depth, their inner worlds. I often work with those who’ve been afraid to embrace the unconventional. And when they step into my aesthetic — it’s like they rediscover themselves. I create a new space for them, a new role, where they begin to bloom.

It’s more than just a photoshoot — it’s a meditative transformation. A person steps into another version of themselves — and ends up finding their truest self within it.

Interviewer: Tell us about your preparation process and how you bring your visual concepts to life.

Mikola: I begin my preparation for a shoot by building the look. Usually, this involves sewing a dress or costume, crafting accessories, or creating props. I think through the makeup, hairstyle, possibly headpieces, shoes — I assemble the entire look myself. I used to do the makeup for my models too, but I realized it’s really hard to handle everything on my own, so now I often collaborate with makeup artists.

I can’t recall a single shoot or a single dress where the final result matched exactly what I initially envisioned. I’m constantly adapting, and I think it’s great when you encounter a problem and have the strength to solve it on the spot, to move forward and navigate around obstacles.

One of my signature traits is that I have a small home studio. A year ago, I lived in a one-room apartment, and most of my early work was shot there. In a tiny corner of my flat — around 2x2 meters — I set up a mini studio. Nearly all of my work, all the looks, were photographed there, except for the outdoor shoots.

Right before the shoot, I might sketch out a storyboard to plan the frames we’ll capture. I don’t like taking tons of photos in a single series. I prefer to focus on 1–5 shots and pour more energy into making those few really powerful.

Intrrviewer: Name a shoot that left a lasting mark on your heart. Why that one in particular?

Mikola: I can’t say I have a favorite shoot, because every project is a part of me. And how can you love one part of yourself more or less than another?

But if I had to name a turning point connected to photography, it would be the moment I stopped only photographing myself. I started out with creative self-portraits, but everything changed when I stopped being afraid to photograph others — when I felt ready to share my ideas with them. That shift became a true turning point in my creative journey.

Interviewer: What boundaries do you have in photography? What would you never shoot — and why?

Mikola: From my own experience, I’ve realized that I don’t enjoy photographing everyday commercial work. It drains too much of my energy. It’s also really challenging for me to shoot events like birthdays or weddings. I’ve photographed weddings twice — both were for friends. But I think if I were allowed to approach it creatively, I might reconsider.

I’m never afraid to make mistakes. I love expanding and breaking the boundaries of my perception and worldview.

For me, the most important thing is to never shoot just "because I have to." I need to feel it. A photo must have soul, emotion, transformation. And if that can be found — even in commercial work — then it’s no longer a boundary.

Interviewer: Tell us about your magazine publications. Which of your works have been featured in glossies?

Mikola: Before the full-scale invasion, I was registered on the Marika platform, which offered opportunities to be published in many independent magazines. My work was accepted multiple times — and even landed on four magazine covers.

However, after February 24, 2022, I consciously chose to stop collaborating with the platform, as it continued to accept submissions from russian creators. I hold a firm stance on this issue and cannot ignore it, even if it limits my opportunities as an artist.

Right now, I’m focused on growing through my own social media. My videos occasionally hit TikTok’s recommendations, which helps bring more visibility to my work. Growth on Instagram has been slower, but I keep going — because I believe in the power of organic reach and authenticity in content.

Interviewer: What projects are you working on right now?

Mikola: In April this spring, I went through burnout and fell into depression. It was a difficult period, but now I’m slowly starting to overcome it — through creativity. It was the overwhelming negative emotions that pushed me to create a new project, in which I try to transform pain into art.

This new series is deeply connected to the emotional state of a person during depression. It explores inner collapse, dependency, the pain we often carry inside — and the lingering trail of dark emotions like fear, aggression, and self-destruction. I already have two completed works from this project, and I can confidently say: art truly has healing power.

When I shoot these series, I feel like the fictional character I’ve created — a part of my own universe — takes on all the pain. It’s as if he draws it out of me, absorbs it, leaving me with a clearer mind and space to breathe.

In this body of work, touch on themes of addiction — to alcohol, smoking, light drugs, procrastination, self-destruction, and obsessive thoughts.

Interviewer: What kind of shoot would you love to bring to life but haven’t had the chance yet? Tell us a bit about it.

Mikola: Before the full-scale invasion began, I had started working on a project that, unfortunately, I never got to realize. But the hope hasn’t faded — I still believe that one day it will come to life.

It was meant to be a large-scale series dedicated to the planets of the Solar System. I dreamed of designing dresses for each one, selecting symbols, props, and textures that would fully express each planet’s character — its power, energy, even its mood. I wanted to merge astronomy with mythology — weaving together legends, visual symbols, and spiritual meanings.

Another dream of mine is to do a shoot with someone who has become a symbol of freedom and creativity for me. That person is Lady Gaga.

It might sound cliché, but to me, she truly is the “mother of all monsters.” A person who knows how to draw beauty from countless sources and brilliantly transform it into a visual language — music, color, emotion, fashion, drama. She embodies everything I hold dear in art. And for me, it would be an absolute honor to one day photograph her.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a Ukrainian fashion photographer — and why this one?

Mikola: Being an artist in Ukraine during wartime is incredibly hard. It’s the feeling of wanting to scream, yet choosing silence — because a voice in your head constantly whispers, “this isn’t the time.” It makes you doubt that anyone needs what you’re creating right now. But the truth is — Ukrainian artists are carrying out an extraordinary role within our society and our country.

We are shaping a new culture while preserving our traditions. We’re showing the world another side of Ukraine — the creative one. We reveal it through our stories, through our talent, through our people.

And in the era of TikTok, when depth can be easily overlooked, it’s become harder for some to truly see. Everything’s so quick, so surface-level — people don’t always reach the core of meaning anymore.

I don’t want talented artists to live in poverty because of outdated, post-Soviet narratives that claim “a real artist must suffer.” Artists deserve support — maybe not always financial, but at least emotional, moral. People should learn to recognize the value in art that’s born out of pain, lived experience, love, and observation. We have this gift — to turn the inner world into something visible, to give shape to the unseen.

Personally, I’ve rarely received payment for my work. I mostly shoot for myself. And even though I’ve always known how much energy — emotional, physical, mental — it takes, I’ve never regretted it. Because that moment when something real appears in the frame… when you see someone transform right before your eyes — you can’t put a price on that. I’ve felt true joy simply knowing I had the ability to create. And the courage to share it.

Interviewer: What word best describes your photography — and why?

Mikola: The word that resonates most with my work is synesthesia. It’s a state where one sense triggers another — where someone might hear colors, taste sounds, or feel an image through touch. That’s exactly the effect I associate with my photography.

I want people not just to see my images — but to feel them. I want my photos to awaken something deeper: emotions, memories, internal visions, maybe even a scent or a texture. My goal is not to simply portray reality, but to stir a richer, sensory experience within the viewer.

Pictures were taken by Mikola Borovskiy