2014-2022, Fourth Edition, 2023
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75x42x3cm (each deck)
Recycled skateboard deck, acrylic paint, Posca pen
The fourth edition uses the response ‘Smert Voroham’ (Death to our enemies), so it was going to be a large juxtaposition from the third edition of the skateboard series. I wanted the character being depicted to represent soldiers who are at the forefront of destroying our enemies. The sunflower and skull at the bottom is a call back to the start of the war when a grandma went viral for telling an enemy soldier to have sunflower seeds in their pocket so that when they die they at least can fertilise the soil for flowers and crops to grow. As for the top of the board I drew chains which is a symbol of breaking free from them, one of our most infamous poets; Taras Shevchenko, poem references breaking shackles. As for the maces, they are an important symbol of Ukraine, our presidents go through their inauguration holding a decorated mace to celebrate the start of their term. It is also a classic weapon used in Ukrainian history. The whole tone of this board is much darker than its counterpart but, I believe that is works well in showing how much we value what we’re fighting for.
2014-2022, Third Edition, 2023
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75x42x3cm (each deck)
Recycled skateboard deck, acrylic paint, Posca pen
The third skateboard edition took on the phrase ‘Slava Natsiyi’ (Glory to our nation), so I wanted to create a skateboard where you could really see the main cultural focal points. The first thing I did was add the lines of a Motanka, which is a traditional Ukrainian doll that is made with string that is never cut. The faces are also usually made with overlapping string as it was thought that making a face tethers a soul to the doll. The second focal point is the amount of beads on her neck, they signify wealth as the more beads you wore the wealthier you were though to be. The headwrap is also used across Ukraine in traditional dress, and the wrapping style differs by region. At the bottom of the board I wanted to depict the different pattern styles we use in Ukraine as again, it is a large country with many different ethnic groups, which affects the style of embroidery we use. Some are more geometric whilst others are more floral. And lastly, at the top in the background, I used a simplified version of the tree of life, it is a motif heavily used in Ukrainian embroidery to bring luck and prosperity to the wearer.
2014-2022, First Two Editions 2022
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75x42x3cm (each deck)
Recycled skateboard deck, acrylic paint, Posca pen
The skateboard series is a collection of painting that focuses on different aspects of Ukrainian culture, and aesthetics. Initially this series started with the first skateboard being dedicated to the events of 2014; the annexation of Crimea and the Euromaidan protests. I wanted to capture the energy of Ukraine wanting to break away from a pro-Russian government and how when our people come together, we are a force to be reckoned with. The other focal point of this piece was the text, Slava Ukraini which means ‘Glory to Ukraine.’ In Ukraine we say this phrase and we have a response – Heroyam Slava ‘Glory to our heroes.’ This is a very important call and response, to which everyone shows respect to those who have fallen for the preservation and future of our nation and culture.
I had left this series up until the war began, to which I felt that the emotions I had as a result of the war was the same inspiration I had for the initial board hence, the use of the response Heroyam Slava to make it as a homage to the first board. The third and future instalments of this series will use the next set of call and response phrases that we use. On the third board it says Slava Natsiyi, ‘Glory to our nation’ which will have a response Smert Voroham, ‘Death to our enemies.’
