Violetta Luri, Ukrainian artist and designer, emerges from the comfort zone in search of inspiration and further development. Having carefree time in Kyiv and doing well-paid business, she leaves home for the sake of new capabilities.
A farewell to family and luggage with necessary clothes only. A fear of not being able to realize oneself in a new place. A way into the unknown always frightens, but if it is a way towards passion and happiness, risk wins.
“A move happened without delay as I got this enthusiastic idea into my head, which over the past year has turned my life upside down,” says Violetta Luri, 25-year-old Ukrainian artist and designer, focusing on human body’s aesthetics and sexual features, three years ago moved to Prague to advance in modern art.
“I decided to try myself outside of my comfort zone, far away from my family, friends, and favorite job.”
Luri’s passion about art was increasing gradually. She got a psychology degree at the National Academy of Internal Affairs in Kyiv, however, art outweighed the mental analysis. Working as a psychologist for a year and a half, while combining both work and studying, Luri received a diploma and threw herself into her passion. “I graduated from the school of graphic design, and I have been working as an artist and graphic designer for almost five years for now,” she says, “I worked in a multimedia company, then I started working as a freelancer, however, I am trying to devote myself to art rather than to design.”
“I can hardly remember how I discovered the desire to draw,” Luri thoughtfully reasons. From early childhood, she was interested not only in the creation process, but also deeply in the history of art and artists’ lifestyle. “It is amazing how they forced themselves to go against the system and create something bold and incomprehensible at that time,” she adds.
Mila, 47-year-old Violetta’s mum, who often comes to Prague to visit her aspiratious daughter, remembers with a smile, “This girl took everything in her hands that she could draw with, and did not limit herself with a piece of paper, leaving her marks on our house’s walls.”
Nevertheless, successfully doing her business in Kyiv, Luri has changed a stable routine to Prague, a progressive youth city in the heart of Europe.
The fact that Western countries are much ahead of the post-Soviet ones in their ability to think freely and go beyond accepted norms gathers around itself thousands of freethinking and ready for fixings talents, so as it attracted Violetta. However, realized that Ukraine was rapidly developing in the field of art and perhaps even faster than some European countries, she was very surprised.
“It is hard for me to compare the development of art in these two countries, since I have not studied the Czech Republic art market completely,” Violetta says. “Art in Ukraine is growing rapidly now. The scheme of the art market is gradually improving. There are more grounds and opportunities for young artists to realize and show their potential.” Nonetheless, she notices it is much more difficult to find customers in Ukraine than in Europe due to Europeans’ openness to art and its acquisition.
“Europeans are ready to spend money on art. Even when there are more art exhibitions and galleries in Kyiv than in Prague, Ukrainian gallery owners are still afraid to cooperate with young and little-known artists,” Luri adds.
Albert Einstein once said: “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” Violetta, conversely tells about what makes her stay the course and, despite numerous obstacles, move forward. “My psychological education somehow helps me to create, however strange it may sound. People are what inspire me, forcing me to take a pencil at 3am. Human psychology, how people behave in certain situations, their thinking inspire me to create something new. Sexuality, facial expressions, gestures, everything that causes desire is the basis of my pictures.”
In the century, when human’s values are changing from day to day, people want to see something defiant, beyond the accepted norms. “This is what I am trying to show in my works,” Luri argues.
“Everyone is unique in their own way, in their desires and thoughts. A painting for me is a kind of a person’s story, their hidden subconsciousness: experiences, disturbances, pleasures, sexuality, and desires.”
After three years in Prague, the artist is already considering further more developed and populated countries to move. “Prague, unfortunately, is very small. It is a good platform for the first step, the point of departure, but not the place to stay in for a long time.”
Luri is planning to hold a few exhibitions and set up her clothes brand in Prague, whereupon to move to Germany or Holland. “I would like to spread my art throughout. Prague was my first step in this trip, but there are other heights to achieve.”
