Original artwork description:

“Sunrise by the Sea” is the third work in a personal series created in response to the war in my country. Although I would prefer not to focus on this subject, it has become an inseparable part of my reality, and it appears in my art softly, subtly, and almost imperceptibly.

At the center of the composition is a circle — a universal symbol associated with the Sun, Spirit, eternity, and continuous movement. The anchor, taken from the coat of arms of my hometown Mariupol, appears within the structure, grounding the piece in place, memory, and identity.

The radiating sun rays are inspired by traditional Ukrainian cross-stitch embroidery — a cultural code of my heritage — and also reference ancient Greek sacred geometry, echoing Mariupol’s Greek roots. Some rays end in tetrahedrons, symbolizing fire and alluding to contemporary forms of protection such as anti-tank hedgehogs.

At the center sits a female figure in a meditative pose, watching the sunrise — a quiet symbol of resilience and the hope that persists even in times of profound change.

Materials used:

Pencil

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