Ukrainian surrealist artist Nadiia Cisar: To be seen in art, we must be ourselves

Nadiia Cisar is a Ukrainian surrealist artist who has been passionate about this genre since childhood. In her paintings, she shares her true thoughts, addresses important issues, and sees her mission as helping people enjoy life and accept themselves as they are. Nadiia is currently working on a book that will explore this theme, which will include her artistic works. She spoke to Drive Music Media about surrealism, the war, and her worldview.

Interviewer: Why surrealism? When did you realize that you wanted to pursue this direction? 

Nadiia: When I was 12 years old, I fell madly in love with this genre after seeing surrealist works by Ukrainian artists at Andriyivskyi Uzviz in Kyiv. Salvador Dalí was my first love in art. It’s somewhat amusing to recall now, as I was still so young. In an instant, I realized that the world has more than three dimensions, that every artist has their own personal world, and without hesitation or searching, I discovered mine. Although I hadn’t yet studied painting anywhere (though I’ve always loved it as long as I can remember). I immediately began painting every day, and this process became my life. I was a little person deeply immersed in art, a surrealist child with my own personal world, a universe, my own dimension. I felt that in my surrealism, there were no limits or barriers – only my absolute freedom. This world is me. Now, I call my style «Psychosurrealism». Why? You’ll understand soon.

Interviewer: Tell us about your technique and how your ideas come to life. 

Nadiia: I use a variety of materials: acrylic, ink, pencils, gold leaf, gel pens, watercolor... but I prefer black paper or canvases, which symbolize the darkness of the cosmic space. My ideas come to me on their own, even when I’m not expecting them. My imaginative philosophical thinking brings these ideas to me. They are always spontaneous! I might wake up in the middle of the night and sketch out my thoughts, and the next day, I realize what the Absolute is trying to tell me. Then I write an accompanying text that also comes effortlessly. Sometimes, my works and texts shock me because they come to me like living beings, each with its own personality. To me, they are alive; they engage in dialogues with me. I discover myself through them, and they, in turn, help others in their own self-discovery.

Interviewer: What inspired you to return to your art after such a long pause?  

Nadiia: My pause in art was connected to the tragic Russian-Ukrainian war. The first days of the war were extremely stressful – we were in a basement in Kyiv with my family, and I was most worried about my daughter Veronika, who was only six years old at the time. Sitting in that small, damp basement for more than a week, sleeping on the floor, I was terribly afraid that at any moment Russian soldiers could come into the basement... During that time, small towns near Kyiv were already occupied, and I can’t even begin to describe what we felt. My daughter was drawing crosses on her arms and saying, «This is so that God and the angels will protect us!» She was incredibly strong in that moment. We, the adults, tried not to show our fear, cooking food in a slow cooker, joking, and helping each other, but children sense everything regardless. Inspiration left me all at once. It’s normal for me to lose my connection with my universe when I’m going through something deeply emotional. I only managed to create one drawing in that basement, which I later called «A Mother’s Feelings in the Basement». You can see this work now – it depicts a surreal monster that has no eyes and could find a mother and child at any moment, blindly. It roams the surface of the earth and sends its tentacles underground to find us. It senses our energy, and if we get scared, it will feel our fear and find us. That’s why we were so strong during those days! On March 5th, we boarded an evacuation train and left Ukraine.

My inspiration is entirely natural, and I can’t control it. It left me after the stress I experienced. But I always know that my creative universe is within me, which means that contact with it will inevitably return. Creating without inspiration is impossible for me. It’s like unrequited love or love out of convenience. No, that’s impossible! My inspiration returned when I felt the desire to truly live again. To live, not just exist! My daughter Veronika was very supportive, always saying, «Mom, you have to paint, you’re an artist!» And finally, my desire to create came back. 

Life goes on, and our time on this Earth is fleeting, so we must cherish every moment. 

Interviewer: Tell us about your first exhibition. What was its name and concept? 

Nadiia: My first exhibition took place in Kyiv at the Ra Gallery on Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street. It was called «Artes molliunt mores,» which in Latin means «Art softens manners». The goal of the exhibition was to expand the viewer’s worldview. This was nine years ago when I was just learning to be myself. At that time, I was a psychologist by education and an experienced HR manager, but I wasn’t sure if people were ready to accept my art in a broad sense, to understand and appreciate it, as I often heard them say, «I don’t understand any of this...».

However, nine years ago, I decided to let go of my fears, set my true self free, and stop worrying about what people would say – and I truly succeeded! I am very grateful to the experienced gallery owners, Natalia and Igor Trylissky, who helped me, a former HR manager, believe in myself as an artist. Perhaps until that time, I had been trying to be somewhat like others because I felt a deep loneliness inside due to my unique worldview. But after that exhibition, I let myself go, broke free from stereotypes, and distanced myself from the circle of numerous acquaintances who didn’t understand me as an artist and merely filled my space and time. I found a new circle, and my creative universe turned out to be interesting not only to me but to many other people as well. I was amazed at how much time I had wasted due to my lack of confidence. Now, I am a completely different, free person with very few friends, but each one of them is a unique world that I truly value. I cannot afford to waste time and energy on superficial relationships – life is fleeting! In my life, only deep friendships and relationships are acceptable. I am constantly learning something new, growing, and I am happy simply because I exist and am true to myself.

Interviewer: You are currently experimenting with AI. While modern technology still cannot replace human labor, as every piece of art carries a soul, tell us about your experience working with AI. How does it happen? 

Nadiia: AI is incapable of independently creating something similar to my works from scratch, no matter what «prompt» (ed. – text command) you use, because this creative «artificial brain» relies on templates it has in its «neural system». Last year, I tried reworking some of my favorite pieces through AI filters, combined with specific prompts, and ended up with something completely new. To achieve a result that I was truly satisfied with, I processed around a hundred variations until I could finally say, «This! Finally, this is mine!». The concept of the series «Metaphysical Awareness» represents a collection of images featuring symbolic surrealistic objects or devices capable of influencing and controlling our thoughts or emotions. For example, my work «The Vanity Detector» depicts a device that can measure the level of arrogance and pride within each of us and asks the question, «Do you truly treat people without bias?».

Are you ready to let go of your templates and simply love this world, its people, and yourself, just because we are, because we exist? Can you refrain from comparing people to one another? Each person is unique, each has both good and bad qualities, and there is no sense in comparing or feeling superior or inferior to anyone else. This is enlightenment and the realization that you are truly free and ready to take an unbiased view of our shared world. In this series, there are about twenty works, each of which represents, you could say, a psychological «trap» for the viewer’s subconscious, drawing them into solving one of the philosophical questions I present. The goal of my series is to break your patterns of perceiving the external world and transform your inner world through self-reflection. We must free ourselves from these templates in order to become free and happy individuals here on Earth, to truly experience genuine feelings, true love, nature, the unity of all living things, to immerse ourselves in the transcendent infinity of other dimensions, and to reunite with the Absolute. This is my philosophy, which is my worldview and, essentially, my soul. We are not only what we eat, but also what we think and feel. So, as I develop myself, I share my achievements with the world, with you. This year, I have worked very little with AI. Perhaps, after some time, I will return to it again.

Interviewer: Do you have a painting that will always remain your favorite? Tell us about it. Why is it your favorite? 

Nadiia: Yes, there is. For example, "The Stern Judge". This piece is from the series "Metaphysical Game", where the viewer can get to know themselves more deeply through my appeal to them. It allows you to discover yourself by going beyond the boundaries of consciousness and finally truly meet yourself through my art. In this painting, you will see a creature resembling a heart, slowly approaching you, sensing how your conscience torments you for something you once did to others, for the pain you caused someone. You suffer... This judge sometimes doesn’t let us go for our entire lives. What must we do to be released and finally become free and happy? Only this: reflect on who we are, realize our place in this world, forgive ourselves, accept ourselves and others as we are, and strive to be honest with ourselves about our desires, because much of the pain we cause others comes from not understanding our true desires.

The most important thing for «The Judge» is to try not to cause suffering to others, to believe that we can help others, and with every good deed, grow stronger. Then, the old judge will say, «I release you. You are doing everything within your power, you are improving yourself, and I no longer have the right to hold you back. You are justified, and you are free!». 

Interviewer: How difficult is it to rebuild your art career abroad? What are the differences between the art scene in Ukraine and Austria, where you are currently based? 

Nadiia: Building an art career is always challenging, regardless of geographic boundaries. Personal internal limitations can indeed hold us back. First, we need to find our audience, and for that, we must be unique and authentic – naturally so! We shouldn’t have to prove anything to anyone. If we have a unique style and something to say to the world, sooner or later, we will find our audience.

Interviewer: Your works feature Ukrainian motifs, one of which is «MAVKA». Tell us how you combined surrealism with Ukrainian traditions in this piece. How was this work created? 

Nadiia: I have always been fascinated by the image of the Mavka, this timeless force of existence, nature, and self-awareness as both individuality and unity with the world. Every woman has magic, even if she is not aware of it... When she becomes aware of it, accepts her true self, and finds happiness in being herself and not anyone else, everyone who meets her will fall in love with her. The Mavka is our Ukrainian symbol of mystical femininity, which exists in our women –  they are truly beautiful.

My surreal Mavka gazes at the viewer with a long look and communicates silently: «You will never forget me, and I will never submit to anyone. I am strong because I am myself, and you have no chance of changing my essence». Her gaze is deep and cold because she is truly strong. She has embraced reality, let go of fears, and is not afraid to be herself. This is a new, modern Mavka: free, wise, and beautiful, perhaps no longer as fragile because she has endured many hardships and, like the Phoenix, has been reborn. Women, love yourselves! Love yourselves simply for being who you are, and you will be happy! 

Interviewer: What projects are you currently working on? 

Nadiia: I am writing a philosophical-artistic book that will feature most of my works. I have been working on it for several years, but now I am inspired to finish it. I want to help people in this world with self-acceptance. My art has a mission: I see so many unhappy people, and it pains me. I wish for them to start enjoying life, to learn to appreciate the time they have on Earth, their emotions, their ability to cry and laugh, to love and rejoice, regardless of material possessions. Only then can they truly live, not just exist.

Interviewer: If your art could be described in one word, what would that word be? 

Nadiia: Freedom! It is the true freedom to be oneself. It is the freedom of worldview, a unique universe, my personal, one-of-a-kind universe. I am free, and that is true happiness!