Artist's Story

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When I was little my mom and I moved from country to country in search of a better life. In every country, I would have to learn a new language. It would always take me at least a year to be able to start communicating with others. 

The only thing that would stay consistent is art, drawing and painting would always be my way to express myself and communicate without any need for words. Not being able to connect to the other kids left me alone and separated from them - but sitting somewhere in a corner with my sketchbook creating my own world made me feel unique instead of alone.

In every country, there would be a new school,  where I was the new kid. The girl did not speak the language. I was very different from others, so I was bullied a lot. When I would share with my parents what was happening they could not even go to school and talk to teachers as they did not speak the language either. I felt isolated, lonely, and scared. 

Sometimes I question myself: why did I not stand up for myself?  Where was my bravery? It was left with my father in Russia together with my language. There was no one to stand up for me, no one to protect me from bullies. 

All of this said I know what it feels like not to be able to speak up. I can deeply feel the suffering of our planet and the pain that is being caused to animals.  I have deep compassion towards other species as they suffer but yet can not communicate to us to help. This is how my initial mission started. To speak for those who cannot, to use my best language which is my art to help others in need. 

  My art education formally began at the School of Fine Arts in Yaroslavl, Russia. Equipped with solid techniques and skills, I proceeded to the Art School of Museum in Tel-Aviv on a scholarship. Here, I began developing my own style. My art education continued with a period of self-study, with my focus shifting to bringing awareness to wildlife conservation. 

Initially, all I wanted to do was wildlife conservation. But during my trip to Borneo, I learned that it is impossible to protect the animal kingdom without providing the necessary resources and networks for local communities to protect the nature they live in. 

On our trip to Borneo, my Husband Jonathan and I witnessed this destruction with our own eyes. We rented a wooden boat that took us along a river in the center of Kalimantan. Our guide Jien was part of the Green Team, a group that purchased a hundred hectares of land for ten thousand dollars, with a loan extending to ten years. The Green Team families sacrificed the little they had to protect the jungle. I could feel his pain and the suffering that was imposed on him and his people. Jien shared the horrifying stories of how the palm oil plantations were destroying their beautiful land. He told us how Bornean waters were being polluted, people were underpaid, and animals were dying. Upon hearing this, I wondered if he was exaggerating; it seemed so inhumane. Why would anyone want to destroy the oldest rainforest in the world? 

After hearing all the stories, Jon and I were in disbelief and had to see it for ourselves. We flew a drone above the area. Through a live screen, we could see beautiful biodiversity on one side of the river, while on the other, rows and rows of palm oil plantations. I was horrified and started questioning the future of humanity. These images ignited something in me and I needed to dive deeper so that I could fully comprehend the current situation in Borneo. Jien added that animals were not allowed on the palm oil plantations, including orangutans which were harmed or killed if they trespassed. Also, locals mentioned that fifty years ago the forest was so rich that orangutans could swing from one side of the coast to another through tree tops without ever touching the ground! Clearly, this is not a reality anymore. 

This affected me deeply. I wanted to help. In my heart, I knew that change is possible!

It became my mission to let the world know the devastating reality and to give voice to the local communities.  

                                                                                                                                Ekaterina Sky