Daria Filippova
Like many Ukrainians, Odesa artist, Daria Filippova, decided to weather the Russian incursion. We asked her:
Where are you right now and why are you there?
I’m in Odesa. At the beginning of the war, I left with my sister for Chisinau, Moldova. We stayed there for 3 months. But in the summer we returned. I really missed my boyfriend, my family, my home.
Please describe your life today in three words.
Emptiness, work, waiting.
Like so many Ukrainians you speak Russian. What’s your stance on speaking Russian now?
I have no problem with Russian. In Odesa this is a common language. But now, I conduct my social networks in Ukrainian (in addition to English) and read in Ukrainian. Gradually, I’m introducing Ukrainian into my daily dialogue. But I don’t demand this from others; this is my personal choice. Over time I think the balance will lean heavily in favor of the Ukrainian language, which would be a good thing.
Which out of your recent illustrations would you like to share with us and why?
This is an illustration (below) I did for a creative community project- “Pictoric.” People submit stories to Pictoric about Ukrainians doing remarkable things against all odds. Specifically, here a Kharkiv resident is depicted who settled in a coffee shop where he worked. He turned it into a bakery and now makes bread for the needy. The city is constantly under fire, so he usually turns the music up real loud so as not to be distracted. It’s a pretty sad picture, but at the same time, I imagine it as a scene from a movie, like the final scene of Fight Club. Some people have so much stamina and heart that your are left in awe, like this guy from Kharkiv.
Even in Dark Times there is a Light by Daria Filippova
Historical figure you’d like to have a drink with?
At the moment, this is, perhaps, Stepan Bandera. There is so much talk about him: good and bad. So I want to figure it out for myself.
