Julia Zyrina's Projects
«People experience a great delight in colour, generally. The eye requires it as much as it requires light. We have only to remember the refreshing sensation we experience, if on a cloudy day the sun illumines a single portion of the scene before us and displays its colours.» - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe In a rapidly changing world I struggle to imagine a hopeful future. I find myself thinking about the world our children will grow into and what will be waiting for them there. While the broader horizon feels uncertain, I turn inward. I work with black-and-white photographs, painting selected elements with acrylic using simple lines and shapes inspired by op art and geometric abstraction. For me color is a way of seeing the world differently. If the world around us resists optimism, I choose to construct my own — shaping a hopeful microcosm for my children.
The foundation of my artworks is a series of family photographs taken on a mobile phone. For almost two years, beginning in February 2022 — when the war between two countries equally dear to me began — most of my works were in black and white. This choice reflected a sense of losing my inner core, a weakening of trust in the world and in the fundamental values that shape our humanity. At some point I realized that no one but myself could help me regain my willpower and love of life. I wanted to bring color back into my world - to restore warmth and hope. By embroidering these photographs, I give them a second life and in doing so I offer both - myself and the world around me - a renewed sense of hope and transformation.
You could be accused of LGBT propaganda among minors! … Julia, you have 7 colors, while they have 6. … Hide or better yet throw away the rainbow ribbon from the medal. It might lead to unwanted consequences in the future. ……. Are you serious, guys?! Let me tell you about rainbows!
In May 2023 I came across a new poem by Alja Khajtlina that deeply touched my soul. It was about my childhood and about my children now. Each line resonated with me and reading it gave me goosebumps. Unfortunately, I can’t quote the poem as it’s in Russian. It explores carefree childhood, love for the world, curiosity, warm nights, scraped knees, clover, rivers, cornfields, bonfires, candies, summer vacations… I decided to capture a photo for each line, and I enjoyed the process.
I started a new phase in my artistic journey. I love taking my black-and-white photos and adding color to them through embroidery. I feel like this gives the photos a second life and I enjoy the process immensely. The foundation of my work is a serie of self-portraits taken with a mobile phone. For the past two years most of my work has been in black and white, which reflects my inner experiences, symbolizing the loss of my inner core and, to some extent, a shaken trust in the world and basic human values. But creativity saves and helps to cope with challenging life situations. I realized that I am ready to bring a little color back into my world and restore some of the emotions I had lost. I feel like my passion for life is returning and I eagerly await the swift return of peace in my homelands.