ART AND ACTIVISM IN THE ART PRACTICE OF DANA KAVELINA

Abstract

The article explores the peculiarities of the art practice of the artist and director of animated films Dana Kavelina. Special attention is paid to the combination of artistic practices and activism in her art. The artist began her career as an illustrator of children’s books, but later began to actively work with different media such as animation, poster, performance, installation. The aim of the research is to determine the semantic scope of creative intentions of the artist, the influence of her active citizenship and political consciousness on art practice. The article analyzes the artworks of D. Kavelina, identifies the messages that are broadcast by the artist, the pecularities of the artist’s choice of methods, media and visual language, considers the relationship between social and political beliefs of the artist and her art practices. Some of the research methods used are iconographic and iconological analysis, formal analysis, historical reconstruction, and feminist approach. As a result of the research, selected artworks by D. Kavelina were analyzed: painting, drawing, author’s animation. Main topics which the artist works with are revealed. The research also focuces on the artist’s reflection on important social and political issues which are brought up by her art practice, as well as the reaction of society, institutions and the media to some of D. Kavelina’s artworks, including a series of painted banners dedicated to the issues that women are forced to deal with in modern society. Through her art D. Kavelina brings up certain issues considering feminism, history and historical memory, trauma, violence, including genderbased violence, war, in particular in terms of women’s experience. Feminist reflection plays an important role in her art work, as the artist offers a gynocentric view of issues that are largely ignored in the androcentric narrative. Not only the artist reflects on the past and its “blind spots”, but she also reacts sharply to the current social and political events taking place in the modern world and Ukraine with the help of art, seeks alternative historical narratives, and creates space for new interpretations.