Creative workshop programme in Ukrainian exploring the five senses, led by artist Olga Vnukova.
Over five 90-minute workshops between March and April 2026, artist Olga Vnukova worked with a group of Ukrainian women who explored their own personal personal journeys through the senses. The course has aimed to build self-confidence and emotional resilience, using art as a sensory bridge to help participants find a sense of belonging and “presence” in their new surroundings here in Ireland.
Throughout the course, Olga invited the women to explore their sense of self through a mix of diverse artistic voices: two artists from the Hugh Lane Gallery collection Grace Henry and Ivon Hitchens, world-renowned artist Edward Munch, contemporary Ukrainian artist Daria Alyoshkina, and Japanese-Irish emigrant artist Atsushi Kaga.
The group experimented with collage, gelli printing, paper-cutting and painting, building a creative sanctuary together and exploring the idea that being a traveller between two worlds can be a superpower.
Inspired by the work ‘Ringed Lily’ by Igor Hitchens, the group worked with abstraction. Through the medium of gelli printing, they made marks with their fingers using soft pastel powder to feel the art material.
Inspired by Edvard Munch, The Sun (1910–1911).
The group looked at the work of artist Atsushi Kaga and his character, Usacchi, and discussed the potential of strength in having a dual identity. They created pop cards featuring an alter ego.
Pop-up card
After exploring the work of Ukrainian artist Daria Alyoshkina, the group created Ukrainian Vytynanka cutouts.
