The project "With a Little Help from My Friends" facilitates an artistic exchange and educational partnership between Ukraine and Latvia. It has been coordinated by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia in cooperation with the comics publishing house “kuš!” and the Nordic House in Reykjavik. The cross-border initiative consisted of various events and activities aiming to unite Ukrainian and Latvian artists, promoting mutual learning and establishing new connections.
On 27 June, the project was launched with with insightful lectures delivered by three Ukrainian comic artists and illustrators. Anna Sarvira, Bohdana Zaiats and Zhenya Oliinyk shared their experiences of creating art amidst the backdrop of Russia's warfare in Ukraine, using the opportunity to convey their artistic messages, foster regional art, and expand the network for international collaboration. The lectures took place at the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Riga. To learn more about the artists click here. The link will take you to brief description of each artist’s professional angle and their official Instagram profiles.
From June 28 to 30, the P. Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine hosted workshops led by artists from Ukraine and Latvia. During the three days, participants exchanged skills, experiences and impressions on illustration and comics production, as well as tried out new methods of visual storytelling. Themes of the workshops:
- Zlata Novikova (UA, LV): “Unreal Animals Inspired by Maria Primachenko”,
- Rebecca Lukosus (LV): “Slow Comics and Oil Pastels”,
- Jana Ribkina (LV/UA): “Comedy in Storytelling”,
- Anna Sarvira (UA): “Visually Engaging Character Design”,
- Jenny Olynyk (UA): “Editorial Illustration and Visual Metaphor”,
- Bohdana Zaiaca (UA): “Research in the Creation of Biographic Comics at the Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine in Riga”.
The collaboration between Ukrainian and Latvian artists resulted in 17 flags displayed at the Āgenskalns Market between August 16 and November 19 in the “With a Little Help from Friends” exhibition. The exhibition featured the works of Anna Sarvīra, Bohdana Zaica, Zenja Olijņik, Zlata Novikova, Jana Ribkina, Rebecca Lukosus, Anna Vaivare, Betty Jakaite, Herta Balode, Hoder, Inga Ziemele, Yuri Tatarkin, Katrina Sadovnikova, Xenia Tarasova, Madara Krezina and Xozusia. Click here to learn more about the exhibition and view the photo gallery.
Three art residencies took place in Riga from July to September, each lasting a month. Ukrainian artists Bohdana Zayats, Olen Yekimova, and Antoni Reznik were able to work uninterrupted at the residencies for a month, enriching their skills and experiences. During the course of residency, each artist also had the opportunity to present their artistic idea or experience in the cultural space Bolderāja, in Riga.
Extending the project’s regional impact, the exhibition travelled to Krāslava. On 6 December, our colleague Ieva Hermansone, Culture Advisor, launched the exhibition at the Krāslava School of Music and Art with this introductory remark:
“Contemporary artworks tend to provoke reflection, associations, and emotional reactions. With this exhibition, we wanted to offer everyone such experience, with a particular emphasis on the theme of cooperation and mutual help and solidarity – hence the title of the exhibition.”
The exhibition received significant coverage in Latgale’s regional media promoting the work of Ukrainian and Latvian artists, along with the values shared by Nordic countries. The event was covered by Chayka.lv, online portal in Russian, and the local newspaper “Ezerzeme”, both in Latvian and Russian. Our colleague Vadims Murašovs, Project Manager at the Daugavpils branch of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia, coordinated the event with the local counterparts together with Ieva.
The day after the opening of the exhibition, artist Jana Ribkina conducted a workshop for pupils from the Krāslava School of Music and Art. Besides exploring the fundamentals of comics and igniting imagination, they also learned to make a small version of a comic book.
The closing of the project is to be marked by publishing a book, sharing the same title as the project and exhibition. It will be distributed freely to participants, supporters, partners, and friends, reinforcing the project’s core idea. Moreover, it is intended to underscore the importance of uniting artists from various countries to encourage collaborative learning and connections in the field of art.
Photos: Edīte Lukša
