Ukrainian artist: ‘Ireland has always been a place close to my heart’

An acclaimed Ukrainian artist has been making her mark on the Cork cultural scene since she fled her home country and came to live here in 2022.

Recently, a book illustrated by Anastasia Melnykova was shortlisted for the prestigious Oireachtas Publishing Awards.

Anastasia was born into a family of painters, and from the age of five, was already taking part in all-Ukrainian and international exhibitions and competitions.

“More often than not, I took home first place, with grand prizes and gold medals lining the shelves. My parents, alongside the art school I attended, taught me the ins and outs of oil painting and the academic style of drawing.

“But sure enough, I eventually found my own way in the world of graphic arts,” said Anastasia, who lives in Crosshaven.

'A difficult decision'

A graduate of the Graphic Arts Department of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, she was also the co-founder of one of the largest art platforms in Ukraine.

“In addition to that, I worked with an illustration agency that designed large murals for supermarkets,” she said.

In her own words, her life in Kyiv “was full of artistic hustle and bustle”.

“Up until 2022, I was fully immersed in building my career. Then, in February, the war broke out, and like many others, my family and I had to flee,” she remembers.

“Living in Kyiv during the war was terrifying. By the end of February, Russian forces had surrounded the city. For a week, we sheltered in the basement of our building, uncertain of what the next day would bring. When the chance finally came to leave, we took it.

“I have always loved to travel and explore new countries, but I never had the desire to leave my homeland permanently. Yet, in that moment, I made the difficult decision to leave behind my loved ones, my home, and my country — all for the safety of my son who was just five years old when the war began.”

'A sign from the heavens'

Before she left Ukraine, she came upon a Cork Printmakers project, ‘In from the Margins’.

“I applied and was selected! It was like a sign from the heavens, telling me that I needed to go to the country of my dreams. Ireland had always been a place close to my heart, with its stunning natural beauty and the opportunity to join an art residency. It felt like fate had brought us here, as if every sign pointed towards this beautiful country. I believe it was meant to be,” she said.

For the month of July 2022, she worked in residence at Cork Printmakers, creating new etchings, and the following April, the works were exhibited in Edinburgh. Last October she had her own water-colour exhibition at Cork Airport.

“Around the same time, I began collaborating with several Irish publishing houses, including Leabhar Breac, Futa Fata, and Bullaun Press. I was honoured to hear such kind words from their editorial teams about my previous illustrations and paintings, and it was a joy to work on the projects they offered.”

She said she was particularly delighted when she found out she’d be illustrating Deirdre.

The collaboration was a perfect match: since she’s been a child she has had a keen interest in Irish history, culture, ornamentation, and legends.

“Many of my etchings have been inspired by Celtic culture and Irish mythology, so it’s fair to say my love for this land goes way back,” she said.

Written by Connemara author Darach Ó Scolaí, the story of Deirdre and the sons of Uisneach is one of Ireland’s greatest tales.

“What a unique and captivating story, one that touches the soul!” said Anastasia.

“Alongside Darach, I spent four months creating illustrations for this beautiful work. We were all thrilled with the final result – the depth, the thoughtfulness, the mystery in each piece. I worked mostly on paper, using pencils and ink, and later added colour digitally. It turned out beautifully, and both the publisher and I were proud as punch.

“It was a lovely surprise to hear the book had been nominated for an award. As an artist, there’s nothing like that feeling of knowing your work has been recognised at such a high level. I’m chuffed to bits for the publisher, and beyond grateful to have played a part in bringing this story to life.”

'Meant to be'

Anastasia is already involved in various other projects.

“I’ve just wrapped up another big project for publishers Futa Fata, ‘An Fia sa Choill’.

“I’m happy to say that I’ve finally started to settle back into a vibrant creative life in a place that feels like home.”