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Dariia Zhdanova

Subtle, translucent forms, or perhaps something that screams at you from the canvas with sharp intensity – the journey of self-discovery amidst a multitude of masks and masked individuals, finding true essence in the roots and interconnections that permeate time, life, and death. This is akin to a path to immortality, a return home to the authentic sensation of who we are, why we embody on Earth, and where we find inner peace and balance. These profound feelings enveloped me as I immersed myself in the world of Ukrainian artist and poet Olesya Miftakhova at the opening of her solo exhibition at Caerphilly Library on June 21st.

Olesya is a true guide, adept at revealing various, often complex, emotional states through her art. While renowned in Ukraine for her powerful poetry, she recently found that visual art better expresses the concerns and insights that arise within her soul. Her quest to find and embody these images on canvas resonates deeply.

With an exposed soul, Olesya addressed the audience, sharing this poem:

I am a small creature yet to be born,
drifting in a cradle from the very Heart of the World.
Warm mist and rain embrace me,
and God shields me from the gusts of wind.

There is nothing around, yet all IS.
My small boat glides gently.
I will meet the Great Bird, who gives
ashy hope and carries a child

on wide wings from sun to stars,
from winter to spring, to the first thunder.
I am a small creature, enveloped by Ether,
I left Home, but I am returning Home.

The exhibition featured paintings from various series, including “Garden of Memory” and “The Body,” along with other works intimately connected to memory, roots, and all living things Olesya has experienced or touched. Her art reflects a deep perception of nature, both the external world and human nature, gazing into the ineffable and invisible that fills us from within, flowing from one state to another. This creates moments of perfect beauty, images brimming with dreams and fairytale magic, a world that is not routine but rather a shimmering, heterogeneous, and sometimes challenging manifestation of life.

I am confident that many will also resonate with the paintings from “The Body” series, about which the artist shares:

“Usually, all processes — depressions, disappointments, despair, pain, various emotions — occur within us and are invisible to others. I want to show, through the body and through images, the states a person can experience. All these psychological, mental states are very profound. They deeply affect me. They are also about memory, because everything we experience leaves imprints, one way or another — visible or invisible.”

The “Garden of Memory” series holds great significance for the artist; its idea was conceived by Olesya Miftakhova last December. For the past six months, she worked diligently on its realization, creating numerous sketches. However, she struggled to hit the mark. Throughout December and January, Olesya was in a state of exploration, researching the best materials and seeking to actualize her visions through countless drafts and sketches. A crucial impetus came from the “Garden of Gratitude,” a collective event held by the Ukrainian community in Morgan Jones Parc at the end of March. This collaborative experience fostered a symbiosis, and Olesya finally found the precise images she sought. Since then, she has been dedicated to the series, meticulously reproducing the images exactly as they appeared in her inner vision.

The “Garden of Memory” series includes paintings such as “Garden of Memory”, “We didn’t know we were already in bloom”, “When nothing bloomed but memory”, “Roots that nourish the light” and “Shared roots”.

“Garden of Memory”, “We didn’t know we were already in bloom”.

“Roots that nourish the light”, “When nothing bloomed but memory”.

“Shared roots”.

This series explores memory as a living space where the past seamlessly transitions into the present. The roots of recollections intertwine with new shoots, forming a landscape where time is non-linear. Here, everything is preserved, even what seems lost. Olesya continues to work on the series, as images still swirl, waiting to be brought to life.

Adding her professional insight, Ukrainian artist and exhibition curator Nonna Davidenko shared her impressions:

“For the first time in three years of staying in Wales, I had the opportunity to visit a personal exhibition of the Ukrainian artist Olesia Miftakhova’s “Garden of Memory” – it was more than just an art exhibition, but a profound journey into the world of personal experiences, transformation, and inner growth.

The artist’s works are striking in their emotional depth and metaphorical nature. The canvases reveal a complex path of personal development: from pain and uncertainty to reconciliation and inner harmony. Each image represents a certain stage of life’s journey, a philosophical understanding of existence.

The technique of the works is extraordinarily interesting. Paintings are created with pastel, watercolour, and graphite, predominantly on handmade paper. Olesia demonstrates remarkable skill, experimenting with various materials – from graphics to botanical sketches. Her creative range is impressive: she is not limited to visual art but also masters the art of words.

It is particularly touching to observe how the artist tells her own inner world through images of nature – trees, flowers, roots. Olesia’s “Memory Garden” is a metaphor for life that continues to bloom and develop.

The “Garden of Memory” exhibition runs from 21 June to 17 July 2025 at Lyfrgell Caerphilly Library, The Twyn, Caerphilly CF831JL. I invite all those interested to touch the profound artistic world of Olesia Miftakhova!”

This exhibition at Caerphilly Library, running until mid-July, marks Olesya Miftakhova’s first solo show. However, it’s worth noting that the prolific artist’s work is in high demand across various countries. This year, her pieces will be showcased at exhibitions throughout the UK — in Wales, England, and Scotland — as well as in Turkey and Ukraine, including in museums and galleries.

It fills me with immense joy and pride to witness the talent of a fellow countrywoman. I wish her great inspiration and strength to bring all her visions to fruition. The sensitive artist herself invites us to join her on this profound journey by visiting her exhibition, to discover our own meanings and resonances, for what permeates from her paintings touches various hidden, mysterious, yet utterly authentic strings of the soul.

Photographer: Dariia Zhdanova