"Lachen Writes" 81,5x86cm. 2023

paper, gouache, pastel, charcoal, pencils

This portrait is dedicated to Lachen, a well-known blogger from Dnipro who, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, has been documenting the war through his Telegram channel not with headlines, but with words that stay. He is portrayed in thoughtful silence, his gaze calm yet penetrating, like someone who sees more than he says.

In his hand is a miniature Bayraktar drone, symbolizing the fundraising efforts he helped lead, turning words into action. Behind him, a chandelier and dark drapery create a theatrical contrast: the front line and the stage, reality and representation.

The painting’s title, “Lachen Writes,” is both a fact and a quiet incantation. As long as Lachen writes - memory lives, resistance continues, and truth remains.