In the autumn of 2022, I unexpectedly embarked on a journey of crafting analog collages. Amidst the turbulence of the ongoing Russian full-scale war in Ukraine, collage-making became a unique form of therapy that liberates my mind while engrossing my hands. It provides solace from the overwhelming emotions, stress, and anxiety, transforming the personal turmoil into expressions of absurdity that makes my inner storm quieter. It has been teaching me how to be kinder to myself in the beauty and the blemishes, the uncertainty and continuousness, the triumphs, and the trials. It has become my new way of healing, self-discovery, self-expression, and play.
My inner state, experiences, stories, and the world around me inspire my creations. Being Ukrainian, the haunting echoes of war have been leaving an indelible mark on me, and I find myself drawn to express the complexities of this experience through my art. While my collages may sometimes appear somewhat dark and eerie, they serve as a raw reflection of the pain and anguish endured during those times. However, amidst the somber tones, I find solace in infusing a glimmer of hope, a ray of light that speaks of the human capacity for regeneration, healing and renewal.
Embracing the metaphorical essence of collages, I am fascinated by the way each observer finds their own narrative, delving into personal layers illuminated on so many levels. Through my art I endeavor to create a source of reflection and discovery for the viewers, inviting them to own interpretations and contemplating themselves, their lives, experiences, the beauty, and the absurdity of the kaleidoscopic world that surrounds them.
Iuliia Shulga, Kyiv, Ukraine
Taber Calderon was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1976. He is a graphic artist who lives and works in New York City. His work has been recognized by international design and poster exhibitions.
“Images can express an aggressive tone that can hit the eye like a sledge hammer or enlighten the mind with striking visual messages. My images are presented through creative wit and graphic simplicity.”
From the south of the Dominican Republic to the south south Bronx. I was heavily influenced by traditional family values and first world country culture shock... poverty, the crack epidemic, crime and the grime. Luckily my grandfather and uncles worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was the best going to work with dad(s) days. On the train I found (or it found me) my biggest influences - the School of Visual Arts posters and the all mighty Benetton ads. Arts was it!
taberjcalderon@gmail.com
Lea Pietrzyk is a French Animation Filmmaker and Illustrator, dedicated to the exploration of universal storytelling. After graduating from Gobelins, L'Ecole de l'Image, she has been working in the animation industry for years and is now exploring Illustration as a storytelling medium. In addition to her professional work, she has also been involved in the development of her own animation projects. Some of these projects have been recognized and selected for pitching forums, including the Focus Script of the Cannes Film Festival, When East Meets West Trieste Film Festival and Cartoon Springboard.
Sofiia is an artist-painter born in 2003 in Mariupol, Ukraine. With a passion for art cultivated since early childhood, she draws inspiration from cartoons, video games, and anime. In 2021, Sofiia enrolled at the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, specializing in painting.
Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sofiia relocated to Poland a month later, participating in the Erasmus+ student exchange program at the University of Jan Kokhanovskyi. During her time there, she not only pursued her studies but also engaged in teaching drawing to children, honing her communication skills and sharing her artistic knowledge.
In 2023, Sofiia achieved recognition as a Finalist in the 7th МАЛЮЙ.UA International Art Festival. Her works were showcased in an exhibition at the Central Park of Culture and Recreation in Kyiv and featured in the Exhibition Pool. Additionally, she participated in the "Abstract" competition from Art Channel, presenting her work in an online exhibition.
Proficient in oil painting, graphics, linocut, and digital art using a graphics tablet, Sofiia currently resides in Finland. She actively participates in online exhibitions and works as an illustrator, showcasing her artistic talents on an international platform.
Brenda Rocío Guerrero Zerón, born on August 26, 1975, in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, has actively participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Noteworthy among these are "Centenarios del carnaval de Guaymas" (1999 - 2004), "Pasiones afines" (1999), and "Ser a-lado" (2022). Her artistic contributions extend beyond galleries, as she has created murals in various educational and health institutions.
Currently employed at the Sonora State University Press and Institutional Communication Area, Brenda previously served as the coordinator of the communication area at the Municipal Institute of Culture and Art of Guaymas. During the 2015-2018 administration in the City Council of Guaymas, she held the position of Director of Institutional Image. At the Museo de Arte de Sonora, she assumed the role of Head of Educational Programs and exhibition design.
In the realm of education, Brenda has shared her expertise by teaching semiotics and signage in the Graphic Design program at the Technological Institute of Sonora. Additionally, she conducts independent painting workshops, showcasing her dedication to both artistic creation and education.
Ludwig Camarillo (Mx), multidisciplinary artist with a professional background in graphic and audiovisual production and illustration. With 12 years of experience as a Teacher, giving classes and workshops of creativity and graphic techniques. Nowadays focus on moving image projects such as animation shortfilms.
Pax, from the Latin, Peace. The image refers to the hand sign “V” initially used during WWII as a signal of victory. Later on it was adopted by Anti-war activists as a gesture of “ friend or peace ”
The main idea is, contradiction, speaking of this harmless idea of “ friend ”.
Olive refers to the attitude towards a conflict.
In a world scarred by conflicts, the concept of peace has often been shaped by those in positions of power. This poster seeks to provoke contemplation on the inherent biases ingrained in the narrative of peace, particularly in the context of the ongoing struggles in Ukraine and Gaza.
The stark contrast of white letters against a black backdrop symbolizes the dichotomy that exists within the idea of peace. Historically, peace has been presented as the absence of overt conflict, a tranquility that sometimes conceals the silent struggles of marginalized communities.
Yet, as we confront the harsh realities of the Ukraine war and the plight of the people in Gaza, we are compelled to question whether peace, as traditionally defined, is sufficient. Is it merely the absence of violence for some, while others are left yearning for their voices to be heard?
This poster challenges us to consider whether the pursuit of true peace is, in fact, synonymous with the pursuit of freedom for all. It beckons us to reflect on the responsibility we bear to dismantle oppressive structures and foster a world where every individual, regardless of their background, can experience genuine freedom.
Let this piece serve as a catalyst for conversations that transcend conventional notions of peace and inspire collective action towards a future where freedom is the birthright of every human being.
Born and raised in Graz, Austria, Nina Seidel (b. 1990) studied Fine Arts at the University of Granada, Spain, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2014. From 2015 to 2019 she lived in Cape Verde, working as an arts teacher, artist and designer. Since 2019 Nina is based in Lisbon, Portugal, where she currently works on her project “12”. Nina’s work has been published in “Clover and Bee Magazine”, “Artist Talk Magazine” and “The Purposeful Mayonnaise”, and since 2011 the artist has participated in several collective exhibitions in Spain. In 2014 Nina had the honour of realizing her first solo show, “Naturalezas”, at Museo Casa Natal García Lorca, the birth house (nowadays museum) of the famous Spanish poet Federico García Lorca in Fuente Vaqueros, Spain.
Join the Peace Revolution is a series of 5 posters that depict the absurdities and double standards of war. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and by the double standards that Western politics and media apply to violence in different parts of the globe, Join the Peace Revolution highlights the importance of peace as the only way forward. There is only one type of humans, the human race.
Inna Nikolaeva was born in Ukraine and now lives in Vienna, Austria. She graduated from the Dnepropetrovsk Academy of Construction and Architecture with a degree in Architecture. For several years she worked as an architect at a research institute in Dnieper. She specialized in icon painting, decorative arts and interior design. Inna studied the color theory of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the technique of the Swiss artist Gerhard Wagner. At 33, she began teaching art history, painting and sculpture. She received a diploma from the International Waldorf Pedagogical Association and conducted seminars for teachers of drawing and modeling. After creating the first series of paintings, she began working with Contemplative artists from Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine and the CIS. Inna participated in the creation of the OST-WEST Society of Artists and organized group exhibitions. Inna organized plein airs and founded the Goethe Art Studio. Her teaching experience is 27 years. She also designed interior spaces and decorated interiors. Having received stage training at the Academy of Eurythmy, she participated in eurythmy performances and explored the relationship between different forms of art. Inna implemented a project with the Ukrainian theater "Potoki” in Dnipro. In 2022, due to the conflict in Ukraine, she had to leave her homeland and move to Austria. This crisis event became a turning point in her life, and had a huge impact on her creative expression. Inna's works are in private collections around the world, including the USA, Greece, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Ukraine. She exhibited her works in Ukraine (Dnipro, Odessa, Kyiv), Russia (Nizhny Novgorod), Switzerland (Dornach), Austria (Vienna).
E-mail: innacolour@gmail.com