The two halves of a shell are a new decoration of the brand, which symbolizes the separation of the whole

We invited 5 representatives of the creative sphere who emigrated to other countries to make their own personalized inscription on half of a seashell and send it to someone close to them, as well as tell us specifically about their move in more detail, about their feelings and whether there are similarities between Ukraine and the country, where they are currently.

«The two halves of the shell represent the separation of something unified. What was once unified has now become a separate fragment, a new form. But the meaningful meanings remain in the memory. This is a decoration for friends, friends in separation.» — Olena Yastreb, designer and owner of the brand.

Maria Zakharchenko (in the past, designer of the Inside U brand, co-founder of the Osobnyak project, project manager of the Recharge Station for urban residents project. Currently project manager of the Awaken Amazonian Medicine transformation center in Peru)
Phrase to be engraved on the shell: «Always together» 

— I’m Masha, I’ve been living in the jungles of Peru for the past seven months. Here they call me Señorita Maria. In my past life, I was a designer of the brand «Inside U». Now I am running an Amazonian medicine retreat center, working with power plants, giving people diets, herbal ceremonies and studying local shamanic traditions.

— Actually, nothing is similar here, there is no other country like Ukraine. The only thing that can probably be singled out is that Peruvians also love freedom, just like Ukrainians, it is impossible to put them in some framework and force them to do something if they don’t want to.

— «Always together» is a phrase I wrote to my mom a few days ago that I feel connected to every day. I can also say this phrase to every person dear to my heart and soul whom I have met in this life.

Olga Karika (artist)
Phrase to be engraved on the shell: «We can’t bring back the past, but we can create a better future today» 

— I am Olga Karika, an artist. She had her own creative studio in Kyiv, where she held classes, courses and various creative events. I’m currently relocating to Dubai and it’s just ironic that it’s not my environment at all. But I’m looking for the pros.

— It is very difficult for me to say what is similar in Dubai to Kyiv, because these are very different cities. But if we take something abstract as criteria, then it is a feeling of possibilities! Here is a very good environment to develop in any direction. This reminds me of my beloved Kyiv.

— I want to give my close friend the second half of the shell. I recently found out that she is expecting a child! And this is a great happiness, I am very happy for her! I regret that I could not find out from her when we met, because we are very far away… It was always her dream to become a mother. I admire her courage and faith in a better future for her child.

Maria Slenzak (Founder of the micro-brand of accessories Slenzak and creative marketing agency Side Eye)
Phrase to be engraved on the shell: «All I want in Kyiv is you» 

— I am Maria Slenzak. I currently live in Portugal. It was never my intention to live in another country, but for the third year I have been living with my heart in Kyiv and my soul in Ukraine, and my body and mind in Caldas Da Rainha, a town an hour north of Lisbon, which has become my second home.

— Portugal is unlike anything I have ever seen or imagined in my life. At the same time, every time I catch myself thinking that everything that impressed me in cinema and literature at certain moments of my life is what is here, what inspired various creators to their achievements.

— Phrase for engraving — «All I want in Kyiv is you».  Because there is a game of concepts here — Kyiv, my hometown, has already been established. There is an allusion to a popular song, as well as a reference to any concept at home that is important to me. I want to keep half of it as an art object and a reminder of those who were temporarily forced to leave their homes and to remind them that everyone has a heart.

Nata Smirina (participant of music projects Pur:Pur and Astronata, owner of the brand HOCHUSOBITAKE)
Engraved phrase on shell: «My sunshine is always there» 

— My name is Nata, I am a singer, designer, artist, and a creative person. I can be known for my projects Pur:Pur and Astronata, and for the clothing brand HOCHUSOBITAKE. Someone else may have seen me at the Eurovision selections, and someone in Golos.

— In Switzerland, there are incredibly beautiful forests and mountains, and the vegetation reminds me very much of my native forest in Kharkiv on Pavlovo Pole. And a botanical garden with streams… in Aarau, where I live now, you can drink from fountains everywhere. The great thing is that I don’t know anyone and no one knows me.

Surrounded by strangers and detached from the local creative circle. Little by little, I am making new acquaintances, but this is nothing compared to Ukraine.

— The phrase I chose for engraving is «My sunshine is always near». My mother calls me «my sunshine», and she is always by my side, despite the fact that I am in Switzerland and she is in Kharkiv. I keep half of «My sunshine»  for myself, because I am her sunshine, I will send the half of «Always by my side» to her so that she knows that I always think about her, love her very much, am proud of her and, of course, worry.

Alona Makukh (jeweler, owner of the Alona Makukh Jewelry brand)
Phrase to be engraved on the shell: «It doesn’t affect our love»

— My name is Alyona. I am the owner of the Alona Makukh Jewelry brand and an expressionist jeweler who captures emotion and feeling in stone and metal.

— To tell the truth, Indonesia (Bali) and Ukraine are two parallel worlds. When you are in Bali, it seems to you that Ukraine and the whole civilized world do not exist. Not because everything is so beautiful there, but because there is a completely different way of passing time and energy, that is, there are absolutely no associations with Ukraine and Europe.

— The phrase I want to write: «It doesn’t affect our love». It means to me that in the context of all the complications that occur in our lives, it is possible to maintain a state that does not affect your love for this world and trust in it, but only stabilizes this love. I want to give half of the shell to my friend, a close person, Olena Yastreb. It doesn’t matter how far we are, but it doesn’t affect our love and connection in any way.