Art
London-based artist from Ukraine wins art battle with landscapes of her home country – CBC.ca
Using paint as her weapon of choice, Yana Litus drew on her own childhood memories to win an art battle.
Through her paintings, she wanted to help Ukrainians.
“Now it’s a hard time… for all Ukrainians, we all [are] missing our Ukraine, our native land.”
“This is what I wanted, to give some kindness and some warm feeling.”
Litus took part in an art battle event called “Art Battle for Ukraine” aimed at raising funds for the country.
The battle is a sport-like competition where artists face off against each other. They have 20 or 30 minutes to complete a painting live, in real time, in front of an audience. Once they are done painting, audience members can vote on which one they liked the best using an app on their phone. Whoever makes it past all the rounds, wins the competition.
Litus had wanted to take part in the competition for years but was always too intimidated to do so. After the Russian invasion, she thought about her own family still living in Ukraine, and thought she was at least going to try and help raise money.
And then she made it all the way to the top.
“I didn’t know if I could do it or not, so it was like competition for myself too,” said Litus.
The competition
Litus felt herself get into the zone for her first painting. She felt like she was in a studio, not in a room with hundreds of people around her.
“I didn’t hear any music, any people, any cameras around my head,” she said. “When you start doing art, you don’t hear anything around you.”
Since the theme was a battle for Ukraine, she wanted to paint something that reflected her childhood memories, Litus said.
She painted a landscape of an open field in a village in Ukraine where she spent her summers with her grandmother and great grandmother.
She said walking through an open field in Ukraine helped give her energy, and she painted that in her landscape.
When people look at it, they’ll be able to tell that it’s from Ukraine, Litus said.
“It can be everywhere in Ukraine…it’s close to all Ukrainians. This is what I wanted to tell by my artwork,” she said.
“Everybody who lived in Ukraine or was born there, or has relatives, they can see something close to them in the painting.”
To her surprise, the landscape painting won, and she was able to move on to the final round of the competition.
For her second painting she added in her grandmother’s house to the landscape.
“This was very close to my soul and to me,” she said.
She was only five years old when she spent her summers there. She spent time there in a garden and playing with animals. She doesn’t have a lot of memories from then, but remembers how kind her grandmothers were to her.
Litus’s grandmother is still living in Ukraine today. Her mom and stepfather live there as well. Family from her husband’s side of her family are also there.
She said she’s glad that she could take part in the event and help raise money for war relief efforts. Her paintings were sold off in a silent auction, as part of the art battle event. In total the event raised more than $45,000 for war relief efforts.
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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