Drinkle building art wall in Saskatoon features work from Ukrainian artist
Global News
Igolkina's story and the war in Ukraine is what inspired Drinkle building owner Dave Denny to bring her art to Saskatoon
The worst sound for Ksenia Igolkina is an air raid siren. This terrifying experience inspired her to begin creating educational artwork that can now be found in different parts of the world including Saskatoon.
“It’s absolutely the most terrible sound and when we hear it in Kyiv we have to go to shelters,” said Igolkina, who currently resides in Kyiv.
Her work can be seen on the Drinkle building art wall found on Third Avenue.
“There are a lot of rockets around our country,” said Igolkina. “There are a lot of deaths, there are a lot of tears but Ukrainian people find energy and the power to live.”
Igolkina was among many forced to flee to safety when Russia began to attack Ukraine. She was forced to leave everything behind but brought her tablet, used to create art wall piece while living in a shelter.
“I was drawing the piece with the heart the first weeks of war,” said Igolkina. ” I was drawing it, sitting in the shelter at night. I could hear rockets and airplanes and explosions all around this area where we were staying for this night. It was the most terrible moment in my life because I was so scared, totally scared.”
But at the same time she said in that moment she had never been more proud to be among Ukrainian people. Brave people can resist such evil as Russia today. she said.
Her story and the war in Ukraine is what inspired Drinkle building owner Dave Denny to bring Igolkina’s art to Saskatoon.