It is somehow embarrassing to ask our readers what they know about eco-consciousness. We are sure that a lot. However, there are forms and manifestations of a conscious attitude to nature and the world that can definitely inspire you. From Nastya Lopatyuk, an artist and designer, we learned a lot of interesting things: about the difference between «upcycling» and «recycling», about treasures that go unnoticed, and about dreams that can be learned
«I am an architect by profession, I worked for three years at the State Research Institute of Urban Design «Dipromisto». After three years of work, I realized that this profession did not satisfy all my creative demands, and the dissonance between expectations and what I received became more and more acute. In addition, it would be desirable for the state institution itself to be modernized, to borrow experience from other countries, and to improve the approach to urban planning. At that time, my younger sister, an interior designer, offered me a job – to paint a picture to order for a given interior style – in the children’s room I had to paint an expressive portrait of Ironman. At first, I had no idea what kind of character it was, but decided to give it a try. At first, nothing happened, that is, the hero turned out too correct, so kind, even decorative, but static. As if not bad, but not at all. I had to roll up the canvas with whitewash and redo it. Then both I and the client liked the result. Then there was the second order, the third, and it so happened that she left urban planning and continued to work with the architectural office where her sister worked – creating paintings for interiors. I decided that in this way, working in different styles and techniques, I will develop my creative skills»
«In those days, I started experimenting with recycled textiles. Although no, I can say that I did it since childhood: I painted, reconstructed, transformed things and the like. But then I did not take such classes seriously, as well as my artistic practices in general. Probably because my parents assured me, «This is a lesson that won’t feed you». Some people know this from childhood, but in others for some reason it is a bit atrophied. My father is an urban architect. I was always inspired by the way he thinks professionally and deeply, and thanks to him I saw architecture as a multifaceted science, one that combines many different directions, so I followed his path. I understood that in the future this complex basis will be useful to me and will allow me to choose something more specific and close to me»
«What I do is called upcucling – creatively rethinking secondary materials, giving them more value and functionality, and thus extending the life cycle of things and conserving resources. Because recycling, in turn, involves a more structural modification, deconstruction and industrial processing of secondary raw materials: if it is plastic, it must be sorted, crushed, remelted. For the most part, I look for a certain potential in devalued things, which I artistically interpret, transform and transform into a new aesthetic functional work. This is upcycling»
«Everyone now seems to know about sorting and recycling, but that’s not the case. This has not yet been systematically implemented in Ukraine. Although, some initiatives do this and build a business on waste sorting. Frankly, in my opinion, neither sorting nor upcycling solves the main problem of overconsumption, waste of resources and environmental pollution. Much can be recycled, but still produces a lot that is not recyclable and safe to dispose of and ends up in landfills. Sometimes such things just burn, but the big question is how environmentally friendly this way is. We have yet to reach a high level of consciousness»
«My first serious recycled product is a bag. I have long wanted to make myself a shaggy colorful bag-panel. I went with this idea for a long time, looking for a design, I couldn’t get a job. And then one evening she felt energy and inspiration – just sat down and began to sew on the fabric various pieces of stripes that she had. From this some abstract color composition was created, and I made myself such a bag. I liked this light pleasant game with colors and the final impressionistic look of the work»
«I choose fabrics for work mostly from what I have. If there are not enough materials, I can dig into the second hand, but I do not often use it. In my opinion, it’s not very ideological and consistent: go for a second, choose things, recycle and then call it upcycling – it turns out something a little drawn to the ears. Because the second for me still looks like a spontaneous mass phenomenon. Although, of course, it’s better than buying a new one all the time. I rather try to use first what I have, close relatives, friends, which they no longer need and can be reworked, altered, used in another way»
«Before, I was not so conscious about buying things, even in a second. I bought something situational, to the mood, and then it could lie in the closet in vain for years. Now I want everything to work in the wardrobe and be combined with each other. Everything that has lost its relevance for me, I take to the charity store «Laska» in Kyiv. You can bring old clothes there, part of which is distributed to charitable foundations, and the other – sold. You can find interesting things in the store, and therefore it is quite popular. Also, «Laska» sometimes holds various environmental events»
«Here, in the warehouse of obsolete and illiquid materials of the «Electric Measurer» plant, I saw electronic parts that I liked so much with their colors and variety of shapes that I immediately wanted to decorate them. In general, this industrial aesthetics resonates with nature mixed with me, and all these textures, textures – oh! So, first I started making jewelry from electrical parts, which we offered as a reward for the crowdfunding campaign of the first major cultural project on the Measurer – «Sound Lab»… Over the past year, I had the idea to create my own workshop – a manufacturing manufactory. You want to create interior decor, jewelry, accessories, furniture, etc. from secondary materials. And I plan to hold educational events of creative and ecological orientation: lectures, workshops, various interventions. There are many «treasures» on the Measurer, but people do not fully understand the value of these old things. They can be slightly restored, transformed and shown as a business card of this unique place. Sometimes it seems to me that I am the only one who thinks so, but in fact I know that there are many like-minded people. I will look for them and form a team»
«I would not call myself a big dreamer. I’ve been dreaming about this lately (laughs). Not that I was floating in the clouds. My dreams are always with an understanding of the realities of life, maybe that’s why I have them quite restrained. Normal dreamers dream so widely, and I, just in case, shape my ambitions more narrowly, because in fact I tend to doubt whether everything will work out for me. Only recently am I starting to measure something on the «Measurer» and in general, to plan, to feel where I want to move, to somehow visualize the desire. In short, I’m learning to dream»
«When I create something, I always think, Where is my audience? Who needs it? What problem can creative, artistic things solve? What is important to me is how I feel about aesthetics, how I convey it. And yet it is important that it resonates with someone. I’m not looking for a place to catch trends and then «quiet» someone. How do I measure need? I do things for myself, but then they have to go to other owners who will see in them something close to them. Mostly I make decor and accessories, I want them to be worn and feel comfortable and beautiful in the created image… Marketing pieces do not work very well for me, that is, I have not yet learned to promote what I do. I can create, and it is quite difficult to tell about my work. Especially to say something like, «Look what a cool thing I did». I often don’t know how to fast and encourage people to buy my works in different ways»
«There is one trait in the mentality of our people: to underestimate what you have. When I come to our picturesque towns or villages, I see piles of rubbish, I just wonder: how is it possible, living among such beauty, to plunder it right away? Maybe people get too used to it, don’t notice, or what? I do not fully understand where this perception comes from: «What is outside the window is not mine. That’s the limit of my space, and then nothing worries me». I have a different attitude to the environment in which I live and with which I interact»
«Young people always want movement, prospects. And in quiet cities it is good to have remote work, to settle down, for example, to start a family, and then it will be comfortable here. Or we need to create conditions for the development and encouragement of young people – centers where you can grow, create something interesting, useful for the city»
«It’s strange when there are abandoned rooms where no one works, but in the drawers are still the things of the people who worked here, on the «Electric Measurer». These are photos, certificates, various artifacts of the past life… I want to preserve as much as possible the historical prints of what people created, and then transfer everything to the museum. Or create such a museum yourself»
«When I worked in a state institution, I traveled to different cities and small towns of Ukraine… In general, I like to get acquainted with new settlements. I have my own way to do this: I just intuitively go somewhere in the small streets where my feet are carried. First I look at the map, and then I just have to understand where north, south, west, east. Then I have navigation in my head: I understand where I came from, where the landmark is the river, for example… In Zhytomyr I found a pedestrian bridge, I was in the green thickets behind it, on the dam. I really liked it – I love nature»
«I am a native of Kyiv. Kyiv is a rapidly changing metropolis. There are many different uncontrolled processes associated with construction. I often don’t have the feeling that this is my city and I can influence it in some way, although sometimes I see examples of active citizens who are doing their best, for example, starting from the yard of their house. I do not have such experience yet. I often think about what exactly needs to happen or what I need to understand to feel that I can shape the space around me. I want to feel at home where I grew up and live. Better yet, feel it wherever I am»
