Tata Kolesnik is a Kharkiv born contemporary artist, who learned to paint in the early 2000s under the tutelage of the great Ukrainian artist Eugen Bikov. At the start of the war, Kolesnik was forced to evacuate from her hometown of Kharkiv to Germany.

Kolesnik’s work is deeply influenced by traditional Ukrainian portraiture and iconography, particularly in relation to women and their place in society. Tata uses her work to convey shared experiences and common stories - stories which, since the onset of the invasion, have become inextricably linked with conflict and the struggle for freedom. On display at Sonya are two works by Kolesnik, titled Connections and Protectress. Connections came about as a reflection on daily with family and friends since the start of the war. Kolesnik keeps a list of people to check-in with around the country, and speaks with them every morning to see how they’re all holding up. Here, the connection is both spiritual and literal, with the subjects linked by the pull of a piece of string. 

Protectress depicts a heroine who stares directly at the viewer, her fists on her hips in a show of strength. The look on her face is one of serene pride and confidence that she will be successful in her efforts, and her military vest shimmers gold like her halo above. Protectress is a fascinating example of Kolesnik’s portraiture, harking stylistically back to the Renaissance masters while focusing on the trials and tribulations of today.