Masha Reva on experiencing creative success during the war

Right now is an incredibly difficult time for all Ukrainians. How does it feel creating art during a war in your home country?

The first three weeks were the most difficult time for me. I had absolutely no reason to create because what happened to all of us was so shocking. But then at some point, we figured out that we wanted to create this exhibition in Berlin, “Under The Open Sky”, which was a charity project, as we wanted to help somehow. We created a need to actually keep on making. I think every Ukrainian has their own battlefield. Art is ours. Art is a kind of meditation, a way of processing what is happening to us.

“My nature is really against having any kind of pressure, especially after I graduated from my MA at Central Saint Martins. I told myself I would never, ever put myself under so much pressure, again. ” – Masha Reva

As you mentioned, you recently organised the ‘Under the Open Sky’ exhibition in Berlin to support Ukrainian organisations and initiatives in their war effort. Did the event receive support from the international art world? 

We arranged everything with the help of our friends. I introduced some friends who left Ukraine to my friends in Berlin and they all helped us to arrange everything, like finding a space. The German artist, Jonas Burgert provided us with a space, which is actually his art studio. We kind of created a gallery ourselves. PR agencies were helping us by writing to guests and potential collectors. The support was enormous. The only thing I’m sad about is that the exhibition only lasted for five days in Berlin. We had invitations in different cities, but we were so burned out, that we just didn’t have the capacity to move it.

Do you find power in creating right now or do you feel pressure to do so in any way?

My nature is really against having any kind of pressure, especially after I graduated from my MA at Central Saint Martins. I told myself I would never, ever put myself under so much pressure, again. Somehow, I’ve organised my work process in such a way that I only do what I want. I have to get some joy from my work, even in the current circumstances.

“For Ukrainian artists, it’s important to be close to Ukraine during these times. It’s the most sincere connection we can have in terms of art. ” – Masha Reva

What has the effect of instability and travelling so much been on you and your practice as an artist?

Before the war, I didn’t stop creating when travelling as I was feeling this urge to do that. But now, I have to admit that these difficult circumstances have an impact on my process because now, I don’t have a single moment to relax. This month, I moved house almost every week. I have approximately moved fifteen times since the beginning of the war. When you’re constantly moving, it’s hard to focus on work. In order to create, you have to concentrate. I’m looking forward to going back to Ukraine. For Ukrainian artists, it’s important to be close to Ukraine during these times. It’s the most sincere connection we can have in terms of art. Being somewhere else makes this connection more complex because you’re in a peaceful place and you’re reading the news and you don’t really get what is going on. When you’re at home, even if there are air raid alerts and it’s dangerous, we can have a connection with our soil, our people are around us, and we can eat our food. Art should be created in sincere circumstances.

“Before the war, I was working in different disciplines. When the war started, I chose the simplest materials I could find.” – Masha Reva

You began your creative career as a fashion designer and have been commenting on the Ukrainian Revolution in 2013 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 since your graduate collection as a MA Fashion student at Central Saint Martins. How did this inform your creative work at the time and now?

It’s interesting that the revolution happened when I was working on my collection. I took a year out of the MA and that was the year I came back to Ukraine and the revolution happened. For the first part of the MA, I was thinking about a completely different topic. But when I went to Kyiv, I saw all the protests and everything that was happening in the streets. That was a life-changing experience. I never thought that I would be so patriotic, but we had no choice. Everyone who happened to be there at the time was just naturally becoming a part of this huge wave that was changing everything. I liked what I saw, even though it was quite brutal. There were shootings at our central square where about 100 people were shot, and I heard the shots from my balcony. I was really glad that I had the chance to be there and feel it. It was an important point for Ukrainians. Kyiv became a free-spirited city. I wouldn’t say that my collection was strong or anything like that, but it was a way of documenting my feelings.

You describe yourself as a multidisciplinary artist. What materials are you most drawn to at the moment and why?

Before the war, I was working in different disciplines. When the war started, I chose the simplest materials I could find. When we came to Uzhhorod, we were looking for a studio. It was difficult because many people came there. Loads of refugees are going to west Ukraine because it’s safer. It was hard to find materials. I asked my friend who stayed in Kyiv to send me a box with my oil paints and my brushes because they are just not possible to find in a small city.

“You can’t be frustrated all the time, so you have to make yourself rise from the ashes.” – Masha Reva

Do you think as a Ukrainian it is now necessary for your work to be political?

It’s an interesting question because I was not really the kind of artist who uses trauma as material for inspiration. I’m mostly focused on things like joy. It was an extreme transformation. I was looking around and I couldn’t find any joy so I had to work with what I had. I observed myself while I was working. I was following the news and every day was a reflection of the news I read and saw, and at some point, the news became so violent that I’d have to stop myself for some time and just try to find any kind of positive meaning in this nightmare. This brings me to Ukrainian soil, which is famous for how good it is. Soil is territory and all this fighting is for this territory. But, at the same time, soil follows the seasons, which come no matter what. Nature doesn’t give a shit about war, everything just blooms anyway. So my work is divided into two parts: it reflects on the news but there is still hope for blooming, not only in the sense of nature but also in the sense of culture and people. You can’t be frustrated all the time, so you have to make yourself rise from the ashes.

“I was meant to be on set in the UK on February 21st [For Harry Styles’ ‘As it Was’ music video], and I couldn’t make it. Even before the war started, we were in a really uncertain state, not knowing what was going to happen.” – Masha Reva

Do you think of your aesthetic as distinctly Ukrainian in some way?

I think it happens unconsciously because I really like clashing different prints. Some of my recent work is quite colourful, even though the topics are quite heavy because of what is going on. Ukrainian culture definitely influenced me, because we have really amazing artists like Maria Prymachenko. She was basically a grandma from a village, whose art became really popular. When I draw, I love everything to be going on at once.

“I’m trying to use all my connections right now to spread the news and make sure that non-Ukrainians are not forgetting that this is still happening. ” – Masha Reva

You recently created the set for the music video for Harry Styles’ hit song ‘As it Was’, which was released one month into the war in Ukraine. What does it feel like to experience career success like this while at the same time struggling for the basic necessities of life, such as a safe place to live?

I have a whole story about the Harry Style project because I was meant to be on set in the UK on February 21st, and I couldn’t make it. Even before the war started, we were in a really uncertain state, not knowing what was going to happen. I think the week before the day the invasion started, I had to apply for a visa to come to the set and all the embassies were closed. We saw that as a bad sign. I did it but I wasn’t physically present. We were trying to figure out how to actually make it work because I couldn’t come on set. So I made the drawing on a small scale, and then I told the team “Well, the only workable scenario is that you use a projector and you just transfer the drawing using the projector.” I think when your life is changing you don’t really pay a lot of attention to any success that is happening at the same time. It just doesn’t really have value anymore. But I thought that I would just use it to promote what is happening in my country. I was only focused on how to help Ukraine, I didn’t really care about my career. But I’m happy it worked out. I’m trying to use all my connections right now to spread the news and make sure that non-Ukrainians are not forgetting that this is still happening. I know it’s just the nature of people to lose interest. But I think this is our task as artists, and members of the cultural community: to spread the news.

What do you think the fashion and art industries should do to support Ukraine? What messages are the most important to push forward?

We have this saying in Ukraine: only in a difficult situation you understand who is a good friend. It is important to stay a good friend to Ukraine right now and use your position and impact to help us. I think for those who have power, it’s really important not to forget who are those who need support and right now it’s Ukraine.

What is giving you hope or joy right now in this most difficult of situations?

I was thinking about this – it’s the same thing as before. When I think about joy, I think about my boyfriend. He cooks like a god and this brings me joy. Every human, every Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian, has to support ourselves and get joy from the little things. When I’m in the mood to create something, I get joy from that and at the same time, I gain energy. Also, seeing my family. I know that everyone is stressed and they’re not feeling that comfortable away from home, but we’re still together, and everyone is alive. When war happens, values change and everything becomes simpler. You don’t lose a lot of time doubting whether you should do something or not. Decisions are made quickly. I’m always really trying to find any positive aspects. So yeah, this difficult time shapes us and I think we will become stronger after this, which is a good thing for sure.

 

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