‘Karuna', 2025
This work is a meditation on a world free of wars and hatred. Violence could only breed more violence, and hate only deepens division. One must cultivate active kindness toward others to break the cycle.
Inspired by the Buddhist principle of compassion alongside the Ukrainian belief in ancestral protection, Natasha envisioned a soaring bird of peace, carrying prayers for all sentient beings. Layers of Ukrainian newspaper articles documenting the invasion form its body.
The central element is inspired by the ancient Ukrainian motanka. It serves as a protective force, woven with fragments of sketches and handwritten notes and pieces of memory shared between Natasha's mother and the artist herself. The cut-up canvas symbolizes the cycle of life. As she tore each piece of canvas while creating the work, the artist wished for peace, hope, and healing for those suffering — individuals, as well as the world as a whole.
canvas and mixed media on board, 6 Feet wide, 6 Feet tall, by 3 inches deep
