born 2001 in Aachen, live and work in Karlsruhe (Germany)
Identity, loss and textile memory
As a person with a history of migration, the question of identity has always been central and complicated.
For a long time, I had difficulties clearly defining my Belarusian identity - it remained fragmented, ambivalent, characterised by surveillance and often overlaid by external attributions and political realities.
I was there during the protests in Minsk and experienced massive violence and extreme control by the state. There was great hope for change, self-determination and freedom - but the liberation struggle failed. Today, the expression of Belarusian identity is increasingly restricted and banned (criminalised).
My artistic work, in which I deal with questions of identity, politics and memory, makes a return to Belarus impossible. For me, identity is inextricably linked with control, violence and prohibition, with homesickness and loss of homeland - experiences that deeply characterise my artistic work.
In my drawings and photographs, I process feelings around the loss of identity and the political influences on it.I then translate these drawings into textile works. For me, textile is a material that carries meaning - it has a long history as a carrier of cultural identity, memory, protest and collective experience.
Embroidery in particular is deeply rooted in Belarusian culture. They are closely linked to nature, which is depicted abstractly in traditional floral patterns on tablecloths, for example. These motifs reflect a deep emotional connection with the environment and cultural heritage.
Жыве Беларусь !
