Could you share a bit about your upbringing and where you grew up?
I grew up in the small town of Netishyn, where my childhood was filled with numerous creative pursuits, including dance, music, gymnastics, and drawing. However, it was the art school that became my true sanctuary. There, I realized that my greatest passion was art itself; I loved experimenting with colors and discovering their combinations. It was during that time that my love for painting was born.
I noticed a goose first appeared on your Instagram feed on June 1, 2022. You captioned it: „Got a bit distracted and painted a couple of pictures featuring our biological weapon.“ What sparked this moment?
After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, I experienced a long pause in my creative work. I stopped painting murals, and my canvases became very melancholic, a direct reflection of my emotions. Previously, I had painted human portraits, but even then, I noticed geese—their forms and bright beaks seemed so painterly and expressive to me. I was only able to return to this idea by late spring 2022. It was no longer simply reproduction, but a search for light in the darkness: my first geese became purple, blue, and yellow—they carried a more positive note. The caption referred to the „biological weapon“ story that was widely discussed at the time, adding a touch of irony and lightness.
What personal symbolism or meaning do geese hold for you?
I use goose as a symbolic canvas, a neutral form through which I convey emotions, sensations, and inner states. Geese in my work are not merely birds; they reflect personal experience, transformation, and the ongoing search for identity. Through color, texture, and detail, I tell stories that words often cannot express. Through the gaze of the goose, I communicate different states and moods. The central theme of my work is duality. These visual contradictions are intentional: they challenge our perceptions and invite us to look deeper than the surface. I believe that true understanding comes only when we are ready to look closely. My geese are a quiet form of resistance to superficial judgment, a reminder that beneath every exterior lies a complex, often unexpected truth.
Do you see parallels between the behavior of geese and human society in your artwork?
Yes, I do see certain parallels. Geese are highly social birds; they always exist in flocks, support each other during migrations, and have their internal hierarchy. For me, this reflects human society, where we also seek support, live in groups, and simultaneously try to preserve our uniqueness. In my paintings, each goose has something unique, a color, pattern, or detail that distinguishes it from the others. This reminds me that even as part of a collective, every individual remains distinct. This interplay of individuality and community fascinates me most; it creates depth, drama, and harmony in my work.
I’m particularly drawn to your „Blue Period.“ How does your color palette influence the emotional landscape of your paintings?
This period is very special to me. I perceive blue as deep and multi-layered; it can be simultaneously calm and anxious, light and dark. It is a color that creates a sense of space and silence while also concealing strength and drama. For me, blue is the color of depth and silence, yet also of tension and strength. It creates space for contemplation and opens a path into the inner world. I wanted color itself to become emotion, a language that speaks without words.
Is there a particular piece among your works that holds special significance for you?
Yes, a painting of particular significance to me is Mimicry of Chaos. In it, I depicted geese with very long necks reminiscent of snakes, intertwining in a single composition with leopard-like patterns to create an image of chaos. Their snake-like necks symbolize unpredictability and the blending of different forms, characteristic of situations where everything seems disordered. The mimicry in this work transforms chaos into a new form, masking it in a harmonious image. I attempt to find order and beauty in circumstances that seem to leave no room for calm. The painting represents my search for harmony even in difficult times, when chaos reigns around me. It reminds us that even in darkness, light can be found, and that chaos is merely a stage on the path to harmony. This piece holds a special place among my works because it most clearly conveys my inner state today.
Do you have any pets?
No, I don’t currently have any pets, but in my childhood, my family had two little cats.
What’s something surprising about you that most people wouldn’t guess?
Honestly, over time, I am increasingly less surprised. Sometimes it’s even difficult to say whether anything can truly astonish me.
Ivanka Nechyporuk – www.instagram.com/ivanka__nechyporuk/
