Artists Igor Matroskin and Denis Bely are creating patriotic street art in different districts of of their hometown of Odesa. “Before the war, we painted murals and street art on the walls,” says Igor. – Now our work has become a poster, where each drawing carries a specific message. Cats are an unofficial symbol of Odesa. There are many stories and legends about them. They say they bring happiness.”
“Odesa is a port city, so in every yard you can meet a fluffy tail. With the war, they had to become patriots,” said Matroskin, one of the street artists in the group that calls itself LBWS. “This is the only option we have. Some are volunteers, some fight on the frontlines. Some raise their spirits with cats,” the 32-year-old said.
From a previous diary, see the pre-war statues of The Odesa Cats
Igor Matroskin recently participated in a good-will tour and mural creation in Taiwan. The main mural in the exhibition depicts a Ukrainian lion on the left and a Formosan black bear fist bumping each other. The lion can be seen wearing a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt called a vyshyvanka, while the bear is clad in the distinctive vest of the Taroko indigenous people.
“The people of Odesa are not in a panic. They are in ‘drive’ mode. They are ready for everything, but hopefully it won’t come,” said Mikhail Beyzerman, 59, a well-known cultural figure in the city. Psychologist Alex Krugliachenko diagnosed a sort of war “denial” in Odesa, as people enjoy small blessings, such as drinking a cappuccino or living another day.
“We all know what is going on, how people suffer in other cities, but we want to share some kind of hope that everything is going to be OK,” he said.
— lifestyleasia.com
Street Art (Cats) Part I
Street Art (Cats) Part II
Street Art (Cats) Part III
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