Creative Director: Aryna Ostapenko

Interview with Aryna Ostapenko

1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?

My artistic vision isn’t tied to a single event but rather reflects everything I’ve experienced, learned, and encountered along the way. I travel a lot, meet and collaborate with talented people, and draw inspiration from real stories and the emotions of others. My exposure to art, fashion, and my experiments all help me find new ideas. I believe it's important to always listen to your feelings to understand how you can express them through your creativity.

2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?

When I work as a director or creative director, trust is key for me. It allows everyone on the team to open up and contribute their ideas. The VOID project became a vivid example of how collective energy can create something truly unique. The idea came to me unexpectedly: I wrote the treatment on a train and immediately shared it with the team. Everyone responded with great enthusiasm.

Eve Litus, the makeup artist, deeply understood the concept and created expressive looks. Dani Ruzhnitski, as the hair stylist, added texture and character. Palina Chernik, the photographer, masterfully conveyed emotions through light and composition, enhancing the overall idea of the project.

“This project became a platform for self-expression, where I was able to express myself, as a makeup designer, through looks and forms. From a beauty perspective, it was especially exciting to bring different emotions and energy to life by creating unique looks together with the team. This is what the VOID project is truly about — a space for collaboration with talented people, resulting in a synergy of creativity and vision.” — Eve Litus

“As Martin Heidegger once said: “The void is not absence, but a space where all things are possible.” This work serves as a reminder that our emotions and inner contradictions are not chaos, but a dynamic system in which every shade has significance and meaning. Art allows us to see these states, accept them, and perhaps even gain a new perspective on ourselves through this process.” — Palina Chernik.

3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?

VOID was a true challenge for me. I wanted to show that human nature is multifaceted: we are not just light or dark — we are a combination of both. The project symbolizes emptiness, which arises when we deny or suppress certain aspects of our personality, leading to a loss of essence. It's a reminder that embracing all parts of ourselves is the path to self-discovery and harmony. At first, I struggled with how to visually convey this idea, but I started with a mood board and reflections, then shared them with the team. Everyone added their ideas, and the project became much more than I had expected.

VOID was not only the work of a creative director, but also a self-portrait. I was the model, exploring my own light and dark sides. Together with Eve Litus, Dani Ruzhnitski, and Palina Chernik, we created images that express the complexity of personality. VOID became a reminder of how important it is to embrace both our light and dark sides. It is within this balance that harmony is born.

4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?

Sometimes it feels like I’ve come up with something new, but then I realize it already exists somewhere. But I don’t think it’s about creating something entirely unique; it’s about filtering ideas through yourself and finding a way to convey your own feelings to others. Everything we create is a result of our knowledge, experiences, encounters, emotions, and events. My work reflects my journey and everything that came with it.

5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?

Three years ago, my life changed because of the war in Ukraine, and I had to start everything from scratch. That experience taught me to embrace change. I focus on who I want to become, where I see myself in a few years, and the kind of people I want to surround myself with. Goals can evolve — you might wake up tomorrow with a completely different idea — but the person you are and how you envision your future holds deeper significance.

I want to share my knowledge and experience with others, collaborate, and create meaningful projects. For me, it’s important to move forward gradually, staying attuned to my feelings and instincts. Every step I take is a move toward better understanding myself and finding my place in the world.