Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Andrei Stsebureka, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Oleksandr Osipov, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Oleksandr Osipov, courtesy of the YermilovCentre 
Photo © Oleksandr Osipov, courtesy of the YermilovCentre
Welcome to Paradise
photo wallpaper, acrylic / 2023
Courtesy of
Karina Synytsia explores how the perception of space and time changes under the influence of external circumstances, using architectural ruins as symbols of forgotten or destroyed emotional states. In her work, the artist refers to the idea of transferring memories and emotions to a different context, creating new forms of existence of familiar things.
Her works often include elements that remind us of the past but simultaneously reflect contemporary realities, building a bridge between different life stages. In the project Welcome to Paradise, Synytsia draws on the practice of using photo wallpapers in interiors, which was popular in the 2000s. Such wallpapers usually depict idyllic landscapes that seem to promote relaxation and tranquility. This imaginary comfort zone, which promises "Paradise Pleasure" through advertising (in this case, Bounty ads from the 1990s), has become firmly entrenched in the culture. Usually, in such landscapes, ruins are poeticized as beautiful tourist attractions. In this seemingly romanticized form, the artist offers viewers the landscapes of occupied Crimea, where scorched earth and ruins serve as poignant reminders of the tragedy Ukrainians are experiencing.
The ambivalence inherent in the idea of Synytsia's works resonates with the concept of the Sense of Safety project, which focuses on the fragile state of security of both individuals and the world order as a whole. Synytsia skillfully combines the beauty of nature and architecture with challenging historical, political, and social contexts, forcing viewers to reflect on their emotional state and sensory experience.