The Drinkle Building Art Wall in Saskatoon features work by a Ukrainian artist

The worst sound for Ksenia Igolkina is an air raid siren. This horrific experience inspired her to create educational works of art that can be found today in various parts of the world including Saskatoon.

“This is absolutely the most terrifying sound and if we hear it in Kyiv we have to go to emergency shelters,” said Igokina, who currently lives in Kyiv.

Her work can be seen on the art wall of the Drinkle Building on Third Avenue.

“There are many missiles in our country,” Igolkina said. “There are many dead, there are many tears, but Ukrainians find energy and vitality.”

Igolkina was one of many forced to flee to safety when Russia began attacking Ukraine. She was forced to leave everything behind, but brought her tablet with her, which she used to create artistic murals while she was staying at an animal shelter.

“In the first weeks of the war, I drew the play with the heart,” said Igolkina. “I drew it while I was sitting at the shelter at night. I could hear rockets and airplanes and explosions all over the area where we stayed that night. It was the most terrifying moment of my life because I was so scared, absolutely scared.”

But at the same time, at that moment, she said she had never been prouder to be among Ukrainian people. Brave people today can withstand such evil as Russia. She said.

Her history and the war in Ukraine inspired Dave Denny, owner of the Drinkle Building, to bring Igolkina’s art to Saskatoon.

“It was important to me to be able to bring their art here,” Denny said. “I wanted to do whatever I could to help.”

Denny is of Ukrainian descent. Now, exhibiting her art in Saskatoon means so much to Igolkina. Seeing the photos of her work on the wall of the Drinkle Building was a special moment, she said.

“It’s very important for any artist to know that their art speaks to those who see it,” Igolkina said. “Art that can reach different people and appeal to different people brings real benefits. And the art that you will see on the Drinkle Building says a lot about the terrible things that are happening here in Ukraine and the courage of the Ukrainian people.”

Igolkina said she is grateful that more and more people are seeing the message her art conveys.

“Now I understand that maybe thanks to the war I can create something that people need at this moment,” Igolkina said.

Igolkina is in the process of creating new artworks that she plans to sell and then share the proceeds with a hospital in Kyiv that helps children affected by the war.