war story
Ukraine - Jan 13, 2024
Mugs
Mugs
By Yana Kosinova-Zhukovska
Ukraine, Jan 13, 2024
ai–painting and story by Olena Gergel
ai"AT THE MILL THE WATER FLOWS,
aiOH MOM, IT'S NOT MY FAULT
aiFOR WE ARE MATCHED
aiLIKE A PAIR OF PAINTED CUPS."
aiLIKE A PAIR OF PAINTED CUPS."
ai(from a Ukrainian folk song)
aiI am the wife of a Belarusian who has a "Ukrainian heart."
aiMy husband served in Kastus Kalinowski's regiment. From the age of 17 he fought against Belarus' dictatorial regime, and he continued in Ukraine against Russia. But at home we were just a couple, parents. And we dreamed of a very cozy safe place.
aiWhy mugs?
"Oh Mom, it's not my fault. We are matched like a pair of painted cups"
aiA mug is about home and comfort. When I was little, I was really surprised when I saw identical mugs in other people's houses. It was beautiful but strange to me. In my childhood, all the mugs at home were different. And now we follow this tradition too.
aiFor a long time, my husband and I could not do renovations in our apartment. I dreamed about it often, about a wonderful homey place, with games of MONOPOLY, gatherings on the balcony at night by candlelight.
aiWhen we first moved into our apartment, we had one single almost lifeless dieffenbachia which Vasyl plucked out of somewhere. And now it's up to the ceiling. Now we have all kinds of plants, so many I barely have time to water them. And, step by step, we created our home with different mugs.
aiWhy mugs?
aiBecause it's about our first Saturday coffee when we recited poetry to each other, about liters of lemon tea in the winter with homemade cookies. About my cinnabons and his banana muffins.
aiNow my painting takes their place in the house. And Vasil will not see it.
"Now my painting has taken its place in the house. Unfortunately, Vasyl will not see it."
Vasyl Parfyankov is Belarusian by nationality, but Ukrainian at heart
"The plant he named Peter and which he grew from three leaves is up to the ceiling"
"Now my painting has taken its place in the house. Unfortunately, Vasyl will not see it."
Vasyl Parfyankov is Belarusian by nationality, but Ukrainian at heart
