Photos of Olena Kurilos's bloody face have become a symbol of Russia's attack on Ukraine and its civilians. They were impressive for Los Angeles-based artist Zhenya Gershman and prompted her to paint a portrait of Ms. Kurilo.
For painter Zhenya Gershman, granddaughter of Soviet poet Mikhail Matusovsky, Russia's attack on Ukraine was shocking. Her grandfather, who had moved to California from Moscow many years ago, would not have survived the trauma, she says.
“Ai e donte kulturën dhe gjuhën ruse, por rrënjët i kishte në Ukrainë. Babai i tij, stërgjyshi im, ishte fotografi i parë në Luhansk. Kjo luftë do të ishte shumë e rëndë për të, ai do të pësonte infarkt në zemër.”
Zonja Gershman ka shpenzuar shumë vite në fushën e artit. Ngjarjet e fundit nuk e kanë ndalur punën e saj. Pasi ajo pa fotografinë e Olena Kurilos, filloi një projekt të ri.
"Këta sy më nxitën të bëja diçka", thotë ajo.
Pasi e mbaroi, ajo ia tregoi portretin mikut të saj, regjisorit Adrian Roup.
“Nuk mund të largoja vëmendjen nga portreti dhe i shkrova menjëherë, duke thënë se kjo mund të niste një lëvizje të re!”, thotë ai.
Adrian helped me contact the largest art auction house in the world, Heritage Auctions. "They have millions of active participants and hope that in the two weeks that the auction for this painting will last, they will be able to raise millions of dollars that will be donated to the Red Cross to help Ukraine."
Gershman is in contact with the photographer, who photographed Ms. Kurilo. American Wolfgang Schwan went to Ukraine to document everything that was happening there. On the first day, he photographed Ms. Kurilo.
"On the way we noticed a large plume of smoke coming from the direction of Chuhuiv. We decided to go to that area to see what was burning. "After we reached the two burning apartment buildings, the first person we saw was actually Olena," he said.
The photo was published on the front pages of many newspapers around the world. In Russia the picture was called fake, and the woman in it was a painted actress.
Olena Kurilo is a teacher from Chuhuiv village. When the bombing started early on February 24, she was inside her apartment. She says it's a miracle she's still alive.
"Suddenly, there was a loud noise and the broken glass fell on me. My face was bleeding. After leaving the building, I saw three journalists taking pictures. "I did not pay attention to them," she said.
Ms. Kurilo was surprised that her bloody face ((Taken from: Wolfgang Schwan)) became a symbol of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
She was also surprised to learn how many people wanted to help her.
"We are helping him find a surgeon. She can not see with one eye. She needs urgent surgery, but there are no surgeons who can help her in this time of war. We sent her financial aid. "She has nowhere to live, nothing."
Mrs. Gershman continues to paint. She bases many of her portraits on photographs by photojournalist Wolfgang Schwan. After the war in Ukraine ends, she hopes to organize an exhibition together with photojournalist Wolfgang Schwan./voa/
