When it seems that nothing can be done, try to start doing something.

Olga Dehtiarova is a Ukrainian artist and illustrator currently based in Vilnius, Lithuania. She studied at the Ukrainian Academy of Printing in Lviv, majoring in Book Graphics. Olga has many years of experience in book illustration, character design, animation, editorial and advertising illustration. She has collaborated with publishing houses in Ukraine and across Europe, as well as with international non-profit organizations and the charitable foundation of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. Her illustrated books have been shortlisted for the BBC Book of the Year Award and recognized among the winners of the “Best Book Design 2022” competition organized by the Book Arsenal Festival. Her greatest inspiration comes from people, cities, travel, and observing everyday life. This is what her creative works are about, which are filled with lightheartedness and humor.

This war is so terrible that I want to “heal” all the wounds it brought to my country with my works. To sew something, embroid something, paint over bombs or even intensify the curses that Ukrainian women shout after occupiers. Also I love to chant our people and hug them all. I want to tell how much I love them and how grateful I am for their courage, which allows me to stay in Ukraine today and draw.

Every time I hear about new crimes against my people, a part of me disappears. Every time I think that the Russian occupiers cannot do more shameful things, but then the morning comes and I learn about even more disgusting things.

I dedicate my artwork to the Ukrainian military — this is the only thing that saves me now.

The moment is the end, but the next moment is the beginning.

I have a research interest in finding leverages by with which art can influence and change people's lives

When the war in Ukraine broke out, I realized that illustration is my weapon, my voice, my tool.

History is also my big passion, so most of my art projects are permeated with allusions or reflections on historical topics.

To win, do things that you are best at. Help people that surround you – it will support you psychologically. Check what help is needed and where. Fighting the tide is life!

I cannot perceive drawing as meditative or in any way relaxing. Rather it is an everyday challenge.

At the moment the only thing I could do is to be an artist — it's the only way to express myself and convey the idea that our cultural memory is the most valuable thing we have.

When the invasion started, I thought everything was lost. There was a feeling of emptiness. And how quickly this vacuum was filled, how quickly our studio recovered and the children reached an even higher level, even better ideas! For me, this is an experience that tells me that nothing is over. That there will be a FUTURE! And it will be beautiful!" Mykola Kolomiets. Artistic director of Aza Nizi Masa studio

Since the beginning of the war I was sure my work wouldn’t be in demand in Ukraine. How can we talk about books when the cities and towns are occupied and Russian rockets are flying? And I couldn’t draw on the theme of war: how to draw grief, pain, despair and what for? But then I tried and I realized and I felt a bit better, because I shared my pain through the drawing. And then many foreigners began to comment and be compassionate to Ukrainians and wish the Victory to Ukraine. I want the world to know what real Russia is, because only Ukrainians can tell you that. We have to win together to live in safety

I don’t really like when people call us the cultural front, because the front it’s there, where our Warriors and Volunteers are working, and we are just one of the smallest section, which I hope is carrying out it’s tiny function

Here is my way of praying, grieving and hoping. And I would like to get closer to the awareness of the things that contradict logic and human nature, seem so far from reality, but at the same time it happen every day on my land

It is important for me not to stay away, not to be indifferent at a time when every step brings us closer to victory!

I like that I am not bored when I’m drawing. I can make good projects, I can do bad ones, but I always have place for experimentation, I mess around in my illustrations, poke around, try something everytime and I find it’s interesting

If I had to draw an illustration about this year of Ukrainians, it would probably be a tightrope walker, an incredibly strong motivated and stubborn tightrope walker.

In parallel with our work in design, we continue to expand the boundaries of graphic art, experimenting and participating in various projects. We have a number of solo exhibitions and participation in international projects in Ukraine, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and Georgia.

Now we are all united by one grief, in which we are constantly, we are all united by one desire, which becomes stronger every day. All of the people who surround me work for our victory, so it will happen definitely.

Ukrainian art has always been our weapon. It is valuable yet underestimated. The world already knows about brave Ukrainian soldiers, and we must make Ukrainian culture recognizable, too.