Oleksandr Liapin, Sasha Luneva: Nightmares

You go about your day, and then, all of a sudden, you see them out of the corner of your eye. You see them in everyday objects, you see them in the people closest to you, and you see them under your bed. You might even see them in your own reflection. They appear when you least expect them and when you’re most vulnerable. You see them in your sleep.

A young artist from Mykolaiv, Oleksandra Lunova, paints weird creatures that go against conventional and, often time, meaningless social rituals and constructs. When you’re having a nightmare, you lose connection with reality. You probably won’t watch your manners while talking to a demon. One of the few ways to keep sane during these times is through being open, having critical thinking, and, of course, creativity.

Enchanted by the idea of genetic engineering, and ethics of manipulating nature and consciousness, Oleksandr Liapin often draws hybrid creatures that look part human part beast. These, at first glance, problematic areas, also have hidden benefits. The pure energy of Oleksandr’s creatures could inspire bold social changes, which they, in turn, could contribute to our victory over the invaders.