Ukrainian refugee returns to painting in Brazil and exhibits paintings in the interior of SP

Valeria Okorokova, 21, was born in Dobropillia, in the Donetsk province of eastern Ukraine. The place, in the region of the so-called Donbass, was the first and one of the main focuses of the war that started 202 days ago. Among the millions of people who left the country fleeing the conflict were the young woman, her mother and her sister — her father had to stay and join the military service, mandatory for men aged 18 to 60 since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

As refugees, they moved to Brazil in May. Welcomed by a church, like many of the Ukrainians who ended up in the country, they settled in Sorocaba (104 km from São Paulo).

It was in the interior of São Paulo that, about three months ago, the young Ukrainian managed to reestablish her relationship with painting, which the war had obviously interrupted. She says that since childhood she was influenced by her family to approach art. She studied violin and piano for four years and found herself among the brushes. “I enjoyed playing, but felt the need to better express my thoughts.”

In 2019, after graduating from the school, Valeria went on to study arts at the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, but was unable to complete the course because she had to take time off from classes, first to deal with mental health, then due to the war.

“I went back to painting only in Brazil, as a way to reconnect with myself. It’s something that keeps me calm, because I need to focus. When I don’t paint, I get nervous again because I think about my father and who else is there amid the bombings. “, account.

Part of the paintings she has produced since then, with memories of her homeland and impressions of the new country, are part of an exhibition on display at Pátio Cianê Shopping until next Monday (19). There are 35 drawings, on canvas and canson paper, with different techniques —in oil, watercolor, charcoal and pencil.

The collection was named by Valeria as “The World of Afelion”, a pseudonym inspired by Ophelia, a character in the tragedy “Hamlet”, by William Shakespeare, who finds herself between joy and depression.

In the exhibition, his country is present on canvases with portraits — of figures such as the poet Taras Shevchenko (Kobzar) and President Volodymyr Zelensky — and expressions of Ukrainian culture, with women in traditional clothing. Others expose feelings of anguish and hope about the war. Valeria hopes to sell the paintings later.

Now, his idea is to start painting Brazilian landscapes. Some aspects of the culture of the country where she was welcomed already caught her attention. “In Brazil, there is a tradition of ringing the church bells always at 6 pm, and this can be seen by people. It’s something very unusual for me, but beautiful. Only the big cities in my country have this custom.”

The Ukrainian says that her main difficulty has been adapting to the language. She takes Portuguese classes and has been trying to practice conversation, even because she doesn’t speak English well either.

Time is also taken up with painting classes, with the self-taught plastic artist Cecília Rodrigues — who also started painting at age 12, encouraged by her mother. “Valeria is very focused, I see a lot of talent in her. Her technique is part of expressionism, with free brushstrokes but full of feeling”, says the teacher.

Although Cecilia’s studio is a kind of new home, the Ukrainian says she misses home. “Brazil has provided me with quality of life, people are very receptive, there are opportunities to develop. In Ukraine, I left many things behind, my life, all my paintings. But now I have the paintings I made here.”