Ukrainian portraitist Oksana Trofimchuk: My digital exhibition BOUNDLESS ECHOES is more than a virtual exhibition, it is an artistic adventure

Ukrainian portraitist Oksana Trofimchuk has been fond of art since childhood. While studying at the college, the girl realized that she wanted to devote her artistic career to portraits. It is in this genre that she finds depth, because drawing a person is not only about visual characteristics, but also about the soul. On February 16, the artist will present her first digital exhibition "BOUNDLESS ECHOES", during which she plans to immerse art connoisseurs in the depth of hidden meanings. Oksana told Drive Music Media about the beginning of her artistic career, exhibitions and future plans.

Interviewer: The path of the artist is an incredible journey during which the artist can combine and create new worlds. Tell me, at this age did your journey begin and why did you choose that particular path?

Oksana: I have been drawing since childhood. I can't even say exactly. Until now, an album with pictures that I drew, probably when I was 4 years old, has been preserved. I was not a student of an art school. But I drew constantly, embroidered. I realized that I wanted to connect my life with creativity, with painting. Therefore, after finishing the 9th grade, I entered college for an art major. And there I already gained new knowledge and understanding that I will continue this business. Because I like to draw, make sculptures. This is very important to me. In art, I can express my state and emotions and what I feel at the moment.

Interviewer: You draw portraits of people. Tell me, what exactly captured your heart with this genre? What is a portrait for you – the visual characteristics of the model or the depth that can be reproduced on the canvas?

Oksana: Yes, I mostly draw portraits of people. It will probably look strange now. But everything happened by itself that I would work in this genre. Perhaps the style of the drawing itself may change in the future, but I will continue to draw portraits. Various models posed during college and academy studies. And every time there was a new model, I caught myself thinking that someone has beautiful eyes, and someone has very beautiful hair, cheeks, and so on. I continued to convey this human beauty on canvas and paper. For me, a portrait is both a visual characteristic and just as much depth. A portrait is not just a beautiful picture, it is much more. I really like to draw eyes. And everyone has heard the phrase: "Eyes are the mirror of a person's soul." I don't know how it is with other portrait artists. However, when I draw a portrait of a person, I feel his vibe and there is a kind of exchange of energy.

Interviewer: You participated in a charity exhibition in London in 2022. Tell us more about this experience, how exactly did you find out about it, which picture was presented and what was the purpose of the exhibition? Also, tell us about the organizers of this exhibition. 

Oksana: Fun fact, I adore England. And for the first time in my life, I am participated in a charity exhibition in London in 2022. Back in 2021, I accidentally saw an advertisement about the Golden Time Talent international contest on Instagram. The managers invited me to participate. But then she never dared to participate in the competition, fear and doubts prevailed. And that's all. I already forgot about that competition. In 2022, a full-scale invasion of the occupiers into Ukraine begins. I stayed here at home. Of course, the emotional state of each of us is terrible. And in order not to go crazy, I just drew. Some time passed. It's already summer outside. June 2022. Guess what happened? I scroll through the news feed on Instagram. It was here that an advertisement about the Golden Time Talent international competition caught my eye again. It was already some kind of sure sign. It is clear that I had no doubts about participating in the contest. I wrote to the organisers of Golden Time Talent in private messages. I remember that Ilya's manager talked to me then. Told everything about the competition, participation. I drew a portrait of a Ukrainian woman literally in the last three days and sent it. Then, I took second place in the "Graphics" nomination. And the organizers and managers invited to join the exhibition with the artists. Immediately refused something. But literally half an hour later, I changed her mind and wrote: "Come on, I'll try." I sent the portrait of the girl "Ukraine. Until February 24..", for which I won second place, to our chat with artists. Art was selected for a charity exhibition in London. I met with Inessa Bila to hand over the painting. Inesa Bila is the founder, president, organizer of the Golden Time Talent international festival-competition. Golden Time Talent is a large team who are curators of the exhibition. We recorded a video invitation to the exhibition. The artists also filmed a video about the history of the creation of their paintings during the war. You can watch the video on their YouTube channel. The purpose of the exhibition was to show the creativity of our artists, to show what is happening in our country now. And of course, the most important goal was to raise funds to help Ukraine and our military. As a result, they bought my painting, as well as paintings by other artists. With the money from the sold paintings, we were able to purchase military uniforms for our defenders.

Interviewer: Tell us about your exhibition "BOUNDLESS ECHOES", which will take place on February 16, 2024? What is the concept of this exhibition? And, explain a little to our readers – how exactly will the digital exhibition take place?

Oksana: The exhibition "BOUNDLESS ECHOES" will begin on February 16 and continue until March 8. The exhibition will be available online and in Metaspace. Metaspace allows viewers from all over the world to communicate and interact in a fully immersive way using avatars. Implied? That is, with the help of a digital device, a person enters Metaspace via a link and virtually becomes present at the event, that is, at this exhibition. It will all happen in full 3D, in real time and with full immersion. BOUNDLESS ECHOES is more than a virtual exhibition, it is an artistic adventure that takes place in the magical Metaverse of Spatial over the course of three weeks. Now imagine a place where our artworks come to life, where critical feedback not only analyzes but celebrates the essence of our creations, and discovery in the Metaverse becomes a limitless sensory experience. The goal of "BOUNDLESS ECHOES" is to break the limitations of what fits into the logic of repetition, crushes the will and reduces it to a circle of aimless consciousness. An artist who shatters the preconceived and pours their unmistakable echo into the ether with the power of unbridled inspiration. The concept of BOUNDLESS ECHOES is like a distant resonance of an echo that covers the mind, recalling the name of a beautiful nymph who extended her hand to her lover, this is how a person lives. He is not heard, he is suspended in the mysterious zone of existence. The immutability of repetition reduces him to an atrophic caricature of himself, imprisoning him in invisible chains of painful limitation. Ovid's account of the tender Echo reveals the poignant existence of a man condemned to repress what burns most in his soul in order to correspond to a faint resonance. Erica Gravante is my art curator and coordinator of the EUNOIA The Curators Collective project. And also art curators and coordinators of the EUNOIA The Curators Collective project: Francesca Brunello, Chiara Rizzati, Martina Viesti. EUNOIA's curatorial team strives to build an ecosystem where artists can thrive, find their way, and shine. Curators work to establish a deep connection that allows to present the artists as best as possible, both professionally and personally.

Interviewer: In one of the paintings that you will present at your exhibition, you used one of the most famous cartoon images – Jack from "The Horror Before Christmas". Why did you choose this hero?

Oksana: This painting is approximately 4 years old. I painted a picture for studying in college on the subject of "Holiday". I decided that I will paint a picture with oil paints, where Halloween will be presented. But I wanted my Halloween to be good. Why did you choose the image of Jack? Because I like this character. Jack is a kind and cheerful skeleton, despite the fact that he is still a brawler, I mean in a good way. He treated his people well and never wronged them.

Interviewer: What is your favorite art from your own portfolio? Why her? Tell her story.

Oksana: I love absolutely every art work and every illustration. But the most favorite at the moment are two works. These are portraits of our Ukrainian artists. Melovina and Enleo. There is a quote: "Drawing is the silence of the mind." And you know, when I painted these portraits, I felt an incredible rush of energy. Simply without extra thoughts, without that rush to draw faster. I listened to their songs. And she drew portraits in such a relaxed state. I enjoyed drawing Melovin and Enleo so much that I submitted Melovin's drawing to the festival and now this portrait is on display until February 19, and the work is also included in the Exhibition Pool. And I will submit Enleo's portrait to one of the international competitions. And for which competition, you will find out later. I'll keep it a secret. Even now, telling the story gives me goosebumps. Most often, the creation of a picture is inspired by music. I'm glad that the genre in which I draw coincides with the songs I listen to. That is, if combined, something incredible is created as a result.

Interviewer: As an artist, did you notice the trend of the development of art in Ukraine during the war? How difficult is it now to continue your artistic career during the war between Russia and Ukraine? What challenges await the artistic sphere at this time?

Oksana: Artistic creativity is perceived and broadcast differently in each period. I believe that now, precisely at this time, Ukrainian art went uphill. Despite the fact that Russia started a war against Ukraine, artists painted and continue to do so. I discovered new names of Ukrainian artists for myself. Because people work and broadcast culture and art. To this day, exhibitions are created for artists in Ukraine, competitions are held, and festivals are also held. The question is how often people visit exhibitions. Yes, now it is difficult in that sense: what will happen tomorrow? What will happen to your art? And where to get the money? And in general what awaits. There is also an emotional swing. It is certain that challenges are created by a person himself. And what these challenges await artistic activity, I will not say. Because it's all individual. But again, absolutely everything depends on the person whether to work and move on, or to throw it all away. But even an example from my life. I took part in the exhibition for the first time thanks to our Ukrainian curators and organizers. Therefore, I believe that the artistic sphere has become stronger and better even at this time, and people are ready to talk about their creativity more and more often.

Interviewer: What are your expectations from your new exhibition?

Oksana: It is interesting to see the presentation of the exhibition in the Metasphere. There are literally a few days left until the opening. How many people will be present, how will they react to the artists' paintings. Perhaps someone will attend a virtual exhibition for the first time. Waiting is pleasant, to some extent there is intrigue. Art exhibitions are always wonderful.

Interviewer: "Girl with an apple". With this painting, you entered the finals of the VI International Art Festival Malyu.UA. How did this picture come about, what inspired it?

Oksana: From the very beginning, the work was created specifically for the Paint UA festival by ADRUM. I really like the look of the Nayne model. She is such a very bright girl. Inspired by Nayne herself and again the songs. When she painted a picture, she put double meanings in the picture with the help of objects that surround the girl.

Interviewer: This question is quite simple, but important. What are your plans after the end of the digital exhibition "BOUNDLESS ECHOES"? What will be next?

Oksana: After the "BOUNDLESS ECHOES" exhibition, I will work on two paintings. Because there will be plenty of time for them. And I mentioned earlier that the next stage will be participation in an international competition. And then – participation in the exhibition. I will provide information in my social networks.

All photos courtesy of Drive Music Media by the artist