My work explores themes of Russian dictatorship, experiences that people are forced to go through and the resistance movement that people outside Russia tend not to know about. 

The Swan Lake ballet has become a symbol of quiet rebellion, something that unites multiple time periods across Russian history: the revival of previously failed ballet in the early 1890s, the role that it had on national TV in the USSR, and it now being brought back into contemporary movement by a foreign agent artist, Noize MC.

The three illustrations reflect grief, shame and anger – common feelings many Russians go through when they're forced to leave their homes. I took inspiration from my own experiences and the many stories that I've read when researching the topic. The "Let the Swans Dance! or why dictatorship SUCKS!!!" booklet is supposed to provide context for those who aren't familiar with the political landscape of Russia, and hopefully shines more light on human experiences that don't tend to be talked about outside of the country.

The main goal of my work is to spread awareness. Not to evoke pity, but to encourage people to speak up. The Russian dictatorship wasn't built overnight; it was a slow process, and lately I've started to see similar trends happening in the UK and it worries me how careless people are about these signs. I hope that once people learn how difficult it is to live under dictatorship, they'll feel more inclined to do more research and help out their communities.

I am really keen to work with stories, talking about human experiences through characters. As of right now I'm looking to join an agency, mostly focusing on book illustrations or something similar. I'm hoping that one day, once I am more familiar with the professional landscapes, I'll publish a story of my own.