Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

‘I never thought that I would move from medicine to art and game development, but life sometimes throws up surprises,’ admits Beata Kurkul when she begins her story about her professional path.

Before moving to Ukraine, her life was connected with medicine. ‘I was a senior nurse in Lithuania.

It was a responsible job, but over time I felt that I was starting to burn out,’ she says. Medicine was her first profession, but creativity has always been in her heart.

‘I have loved to draw since childhood, although it was just a hobby back then. I graduated from art school, but then chose medicine because I thought it was a more stable and serious profession and I could be more useful to people,’ she recalls.

However, the real turning point in her life was her passion for Star Wars.

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

‘It was Star Wars that made me pick up a pencil again. I was so fascinated by this world that I started drawing fan art. At first, it was for my soul, but later I realised that drawing became a way for me to escape from reality, a kind of art therapy,’ explains Beata.

The transition to professional painting was gradual:

‘When I realised I didn't want to work in medicine anymore, I started learning how to use digital programmes like Photoshop. It wasn't easy, because I was self-taught, but gradually the first orders came.’

Her first projects were related to game design, and she started working with international clients, including Russia, by 2014.

‘At that time, the Ukrainian and Russian gamemaking communities were working together, and it was hard to imagine that a war could break out between our countries,’ she says

A turning point: Maidan and the outbreak of war

‘Maidan changed everything,’ Beata admits, recalling the events of 2013-2014. For her, as for many Ukrainians, it was a turning point not only in the social and political life of the country, but also in her personal relationships with friends from Russia and other former Soviet countries.

‘Before the Maidan, our community of Star Wars fans was very close-knit. We did not think about politics, we were united by common interests. But after the Maidan, disagreements began. I remember how the forums where we used to discuss films and games suddenly started to have political arguments. Russians were supporting Putin, many were broadcasting propaganda, and it came as an unpleasant surprise to me,’ Beata shares her memories.

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

It was especially difficult when her friends began to express support for the annexation of Crimea. ’

I saw how my friends from Russia, whom I considered intelligent and reasonable people, supported the actions of their government. They believed in Russian propaganda, even though they had access to all sources of information. This split us. Many of them simply disappeared from my life after that,’ she says bitterly.

It was after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine that Beata began to take up martial arts.

‘I realised that I could no longer stand aside. I had to do something useful for my new country. That's when I started painting the military, when I got my first clients - border guards. I created the first pictures for them to cheer them up,’ she adds.

The beginning of war art: From a hobby to a serious business

‘For me, the war started in 2014, when my husband became a volunteer, and our life changed completely. He started working with border guards, and they became my first models,’ says Beata.

She started painting Ukrainian soldiers, initially using photos that were sent to her. - ‘It was a new stage in my life. At first, I was painting for myself, but the military told me many times that it was not only for me, but for others as well. Eventually, I realised that it was true. It was my way of supporting our soldiers.’

Her work quickly attracted attention: ‘The border guards invited me to make an exhibition for their unit. At first, the border guards invited me to meet them, then together with the Administration of the State Border Guard Service, we organised an exhibition at Boryspil Airport. This was followed by visits to other border guard units with exhibitions. Her work has become popular among the military not only because of its high quality, but also because of the accuracy of the details.

‘It was important for me to convey the reality of military life, not in all its brutality, but by focusing on the equipment, weapons and other gear. I have always consulted with the military themselves, asking for maximum feedback from them - from technical aspects to the emotional perception of my work, so as not to intentionally hurt their feelings. Thanks to this cooperation, my work became better,’ she explains.

Painting portraits of the dead: Emotionally challenging work

One of the most difficult aspects of Beata's work is creating portraits of fallen soldiers.

‘Painting portraits of the dead is a very sensitive thing. You paint what a person keeps in their memory, the image that remains in the memories of their loved ones,’ she says.

Beata approaches this process with great care:

‘I always ask relatives or friends what the person's favourite music was, what they liked, what their habits were. This helps me to tune in to the emotional state and create a real portrait that conveys not only the appearance but also the soul of the person.’

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

When working on such portraits, she often uses music:

‘I create a special playlist to which I add the music that the deceased loved and something of my own. This helps me to feel the emotions I want to convey in the painting. It's a very intimate process, and I always try to approach it with great respect,’ says the artist.

Clouds as a symbol in Beata's art

One of the most interesting aspects of Beata's work is her special attention to the depiction of clouds, which have become an important element of her paintings.

‘For me, clouds are not just a landscape background. They are the first component that creates the mood and sets the tone for my work. Clouds are responsible for emotions. Through light and colours, I convey the emotional state of the sky, which reflects the inner state of the characters in the painting,’ Beata explains.

She tells us how this passion came about:

‘One day in 2013, I was standing by the window at work and just looking at the sky. It was so dramatic and beautiful that I thought: ‘I want to learn how to paint clouds like that’. It was my first serious desire to depict the sky in my paintings. I started drawing a lot, making sketches, observing the changes of light during the day.’

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

Over time, her approach to clouds became more scientific:

‘In 2020, I decided to study a cloud atlas. I used to just intuitively draw what I saw, but I became interested in understanding how clouds are actually formed, how light falls on them, and what light effects they can have. It's a great topic, and I'm glad I dived into it.’

For Beata, clouds are not only a natural beauty, but also a symbol:

‘Often when I paint clouds, I find that they start to ‘guide’ me. Sometimes I see a bird or another figure in the clouds, and then it becomes part of the overall composition. This is symbolism that appears naturally. I rarely plan it in advance, it comes to me while working.’

Exhibitions: for the military, civilians and abroad

Beata holds many exhibitions, and the approach to choosing works for each of them depends on the audience.

‘For almost every exhibition, I create a separate set of paintings - depending on the unit, time and goals of the event. The main goal is to inspire the military, show respect and emphasise that they are not alone in their struggle. They are remembered and cared for not only by their families, but also by many other people,’ she explains.

She emphasises that the approach to exhibitions for civilians has a different goal:

‘In fact, my goal is to touch people, to make them remember those who make them live in peace and to encourage them to think about the military. Therefore, the exhibitions include not only positive works, but also those that evoke strong emotions. The exception is exhibitions abroad, where the approach may be slightly different,’ she explains.

Beata Kurkul: ‘Art is my art therapy. The war changed me, but did not break me’

Beata's approach to exhibitions abroad is particularly interesting:

‘I always try to show foreigners that we, Ukrainians, are not only about the war. We are strong and cheerful people who are capable of great achievements even in difficult times. I want them to see us from the other side, to understand that we are not just victims of war, but creators who continue to live and work. That is why I choose more light and positive works for exhibitions abroad.’

Beata also shares her experience of exhibitions in Lithuania: ‘Lithuanians understand very well what the Soviet Union was, and I see how they react to my work. They don't often express their emotions out loud, but when a Lithuanian comes up to me and says: ‘It's great’, I know that they really liked it. It's the biggest compliment you can get from a Lithuanian.’

Beata's works not only touch but also inspire: ‘Several times people wrote to me that after the exhibitions they stood in front of my paintings and cried. It's very touching because I want my works to evoke real emotions, whether it's tears or a smile. The main thing is that they help people feel supported and hopeful.’

Thus, each exhibition by Beata Kurkul is unique and takes into account the needs and emotional state of her audience. Her works become a bridge between people who are looking for hope and the art that can give it.

Cooperation with the military: Accuracy and realism

Beata always strives for realism in her work:

‘I try to find a balance between fantasy and reality. It's important for me that the military who see my work feel that I understand their profession,’ she says. Once she painted guns facing in different directions, but the military immediately pointed out the mistake: ‘They said the guns should be facing the same direction. So I corrected it. It was important to them and it was important to me.’

Beata emphasises that every detail matters:

‘I was working on a painting depicting a soldier with a machine gun, and a friend of mine who is in the service said: ‘Everything is fine, but you forgot the front sight on the machine gun. I wouldn't be able to hit the enemy with such a machine gun. So I fixed it. I want them to see themselves in my works and feel that it is not just art, but a part of their lives.’

The future after the war: Returning to normal life

Beata dreams of the future, but admits that planning is very limited at the moment:

‘My husband and I dream of going to Cyprus for six months after the war and just relaxing. These are our dreams that help us to keep going during the war,’ she says hopefully. However, her biggest hope is for the return of their friend, a border guard from Azovstal, from captivity: ‘This will be the first moment when we start counting our new life. He will come back, and it will be a new beginning for us.’

Beata believes that the war has changed not only her art, but the whole country: ‘The war has changed each of us, but we must not lose our unity. If we quarrel with each other, there will be no point in our victory. We must stay strong and support each other, because that is what makes us invincible.’