Hristina Novykova

After February 24 I exist in a phantasmagorical dream that combines the present and the past. Deformed feelings, body, memory. A permanent state of tightness and suffocation. Printed photos are the only thing that now physically connects me with my hometown and first love. They seem to be sewn into the skin. The memory is not deformed, but on the contrary, every day it becomes more and more clear and detailed.

High Hopes project explores youth as a unique period of existence. For me it's primarly about absolute openness and endless desires. I collect observations of my friends daily life, intimate moments and what surrounds us. "High Hopes" invites to share the state of transition from childhood to adulthood where, as Pink Floyd sang, the grass was greener and the light was brighter.

There is nothing in common between my childhood memories and the family album. I hand-coloured the photos in an attempt to restore balance. Caustic, unsettling colors overlay the perfect picture in order to reveal reality. The "I am from" project explores the warping of memory and family relationships over time.

The My Lovers project consists of my self-portraits and avatars of my subscribers on adult sites, combined into ironic collages. During my work in the field of erotica, I meet different people. Some of them think they know the real me. But in fact, physical nudity has nothing to do with emotional openness. As I get naked, I close more and more. I become a reflection of the desires and needs of the person on the other side of the screen. And most often this reflection is absurd and ridiculous.

This Is Sasha Nevesela project explores the experience of my friend Sasha. Shortly after the start of the war, she was diagnosed with an anxiety-depressive disorder. The works are made in the sandwich technique, where the layers of derealization overlap each other and change the surrounding space.