Russia's invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing today. Seeing the attack, many people sympathized with Ukraine. Starting from taking to the streets to campaigning on social media, there may have been many broadcasts.
Recently, Hanna Tsukanova, an artist from Ukraine, has supported her country by creating 3D animal portraits using the needle felting method. This artist sells his paintings to help the victims of the war in Ukraine, his hometown.
Uniquely, Hanna uses natural fleece to create her creations. Nevertheless, Hanna assured that no animals were harmed during the creative process.
"The portraits are so realistic that some people are even scared when they see them for the first time. When I presented my work at an exhibition in France, many people asked me if I was a taxidermist and did I make my portrait out of a real cat?! The answer is no! I can assure you that no animal was harmed during the creative process," explains Hanna at Bored Panda.
Art Auction for the Zoo
In 2019, Hanna created a painting of a lynx (a brown furry wild cat) in collaboration with the Kyiv Zoo. Now, his painting is at his parents' house in Kyiv, where the conflict took place.
"I believe that when peace comes to my beloved Ukraine, I will be able to auction this portrait of a lynx and transfer the money to my wonderful friends from the Kyiv Zoo. Despite the constant shooting and threats to human life, the garden staff animals don't abandon animals and arrange for their evacuation," Hanna hoped.
Help Ukrainian Girl Survive for Animals
Apart from helping the zoo in Kyiv, by selling her work, Hanna apparently also wants to help a Ukrainian girl named Olesya from Zaporizhzhia. Olesya chose to stay with her animals in Ukraine and continue to save them rather than escape gunfire.
"I raise money for her herd. She has more than 200 domestic and wild animals in her care. I have managed to raise around $1000 for Olesya. This is enough money for now," explains Hanna.
"The problem now is no longer with money, but with the goods that Olesya needs to buy - there are problems with the availability of medicines for animals and their delivery to her city, which has come under fire from the Russian army," he added.
He hoped the war would end soon and he could return to Ukraine. "I dream of a time when my heart will not be filled with pain and hatred for the enemy who killed Ukrainian civilians, women and children. I dream of a time when I will return to making animal portraits with great love," said the artist who also this journalist.
If you want to help Hanna, you can buy her work on Etsy RunoArtPet.