Everything changed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. My home was destroyed. Together with my mother, I spent a month in the besieged city, hiding from shelling, enduring cold, hunger, and constant uncertainty. By a miracle, we managed to escape. With only one backpack containing our documents, I arrived in Gdańsk, Poland, where I had to start life from the very beginning. I took any job I could and was not afraid of difficulties — after everything I had lived through, something inside me had changed. My mother was by my side, and I felt a deep responsibility for her. Step by step, I learned Polish, became more confident in a new country, and continued to find time for art despite exhaustion. I could give up rest and sleep, but I could not give up my brushes and paints. Today, I am finally doing what I truly love. Art is no longer just my hobby — it has become part of my life and my profession. For me, it is a great happiness to create, to share my work with people, and to live through something that gives my life meaning.