Maria Kozyrenko

Biography

Maria Kozyrenko is a contemporary Ukrainian writer, poet, and artist, author of five books, including poetry collections, short prose, and a novella. Her works have been published in Ukrainian literary anthologies, journals, and collective collections, and have received numerous literary awards. She graduated from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University with a degree in "Ukrainian Language and Literature." In her work, Maria harmoniously combines literary mastery with visual art, independently illustrating her own books and collective publications. Maria's artistic works have been presented at exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad, including private and state collections. Among her personal exhibitions are "Candy Period" (Kharkiv Literary Museum, 2010) and online exhibition "Islands" (2020), organized by the Nazariy Voitovych Art Residence. Her work has gained recognition in both literary and artistic circles, establishing her status as one of the leading artists of contemporary Ukraine.
Literary and Artistic Awards
Diploma winner of the international literary competition "Granoslov" (2004)
Winner of the regional competition "Youth Leader of the Year-2004" in the nomination "Poet, Writer"
Diploma winner of the annual regional festival and seminar "Young Slobozhanshchyna" (2004-2006)
In 2007 received 3rd place in the "Prose" nomination at the literary competition "Rukomeslo"
Winner of O. S. Maselsky competition in "Prose" and "Poetry" nominations (2016-2017)
In 2016 received second place in the "Poetry" nomination at the literary competition "Kalmius"
II prize of the all-Ukrainian poetry competition "Carpathian Pegasus" (2018)
I place in the literary-musical competition "Kalmius" in the nomination "Poetry for Adults" (2018)
III place in the literary-musical competition "Kalmius" in the nomination "Poetry for Children" (2018)
Winner of the art projects competition at the Nazariy Voitovych Art Residence (Ukraine, 2020)
Exhibitions
The artist's paintings are held in private collections in Ukraine and abroad, in the funds of state and private museums and galleries of Ukraine.
Personal exhibitions:
"Candy Period" (Kharkiv Literary Museum, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2010)
"2 D" (Kharkiv Municipal Gallery, Kharkiv, Ukraine, 2011)
"Islands" (online exhibition on the Kunstmatrix platform, organized by the Nazariy Voitovych Art Residence, Ukraine, 2020)

Works

"Journey Just Before..." Islands

"Tropical forests, bright city landscapes, warm sea - this is our world moments before catastrophe. An island is a metaphor for both prison and eden simultaneously. Since ancient times, many people were sent to islands in exile, but now we ourselves seek opportunities to go there for rest. In a broader sense, islands are each family locked in quarantine in their home - that's also an island, just as each individual human body that in current conditions can become a vessel for infection, even without suspecting it. From the outside, everything is idyllic - nature, houses painted in sunny colors, eternal summer in the Caribbean. But this dimension of 'Islands' is artificially devoid of people. It seems they were just here. Someone must have opened this store's door, turned on the lights, applied fresh road markings. But where are they now? On the islands of their own rooms, private yards, or hospital beds. The second dimension of 'Islands' is the victory of life, despite everything. Ferns grow on the house roof, moss covers dead stones, an old tree becomes home to several other plants. We return home and begin to understand: perhaps, here and now is the best place and time you could find yourself in, being your own island, your own ocean. The 18 works presented in the 'Islands' series were created from March to June 2020 - a reconsideration of a journey that, ironically, was my first overseas trip in my life and simultaneously the last before the global quarantine and closure of borders and skies, which began a couple of weeks after my return. As if the world opened its doors and instantly slammed them shut with a bang, just as I managed to cross the threshold."