An exhibition of recent paintings by
Ukrainian artist Nataliia Diomidova
Supported by Art Space Portsmouth & Council for Social Responsibility
Preview: Friday 3rd March 6-8pm
Open: Sat 4th – Sun 5th & Sat 11th – Sun 12th March, 12-4pm
‘Awakening’ is an exhibition of paintings by the former psychology lecturer from Kharkiv, depicting scenes about her homeland Ukraine, and her current home in the UK.
Nataliia was uprooted from her home, city and country when Russia started a war with Ukraine a year ago. With a small backpack, Nataliia left behind her husband, travelling by train with her beloved dog Matilda, through Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, France, before eventually reaching Portsmouth, where her sister Helen has been living as a language tutor.
Sadly upon arriving in Portsmouth, the stress was too much for Matilda; she died. For the second time, Nataliia had to go through the trauma of separation and grief in such a short span of time.
Art is her means to express it all; where she came from, what she’s going through, and also where she is now. Art, also seems to be her only way now to try and make a living now, maybe also in the future, as the university where she worked in Kharkiv has been destroyed.
“When people do something with their hands, draw, sculpt from clay and so on, they pour out their feelings, emotions and thoughts that they did not realise or poorly understood. And only after that they realise what’s happening to them, and in which direction they need to move,” explained Nataliia about why she paints.
Art Space Portsmouth
27 Brougham Road, Southsea, PO5 4PA