Belarusian Artist’s Unique Journey: 141 Days of Art Adrift in the Caribbean
Belarusian Artist’s Unique Journey: 141 Days of Art Adrift in the Caribbean
Imagine strolling down the street and stumbling upon a piece of art. Attached to it is a note from the artist, declaring that the artwork is now yours. This delightful scenario is the brainchild of Victoria Valyuk, a Belarusian artist who has been gifting her creations in the form of “messages in a bottle” for over a year. This unique approach not only brings people closer to art but also introduces foreigners to Belarus. Her gifts have reached nearly three dozen people worldwide, with some paintings traveling hundreds of kilometers across the sea to find their owners.
Victoria Valyuk: A Journey Through Art
Victoria Valyuk has participated in over 70 exhibitions worldwide. Her works have been featured twice in the “Trends of the Week” section of Saatchi Art, the world’s largest online gallery. She is also the mastermind behind the art tour show “Artifact,” which has been running for over a year.
Igniting the Spark
Victoria’s journey into the world of art began with a project called “Checkers – a Folk Game!” under the auspices of the public organization “Belarusian Checkers Federation.” The project aimed to popularize the sport through competitions, video tutorials, and interviews with athletes. One of these activities was an art exhibition where Victoria served as a curator. This experience opened a new “door” for her, revealing the captivating world of art.
The Birth of “Artifact”
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge for artists: how to conduct exhibitions under the new conditions? This question led to the creation of the “Artifact” art tour show. Victoria began leaving miniature artworks in various locations or setting them adrift in bottles. The internet provides clues about the city where the painting is located, but no further details are given. Often, people stumble upon these artifacts by chance. According to the show’s rules, those who find the artifacts can keep them without any obligation.
From Local to Global
The project’s name, “Artifact,” reflects its essence: a combination of art, show, and travel. Each miniature painting, created specifically for this project, is unique and acquires the status of an artifact. The paintings are placed in glass bottles, the most eco-friendly material that helps preserve the artwork.
The first bottle with a painting was left on land, but the next one was set adrift in the sea, giving the project an international scale. Victoria’s miniatures have been left in Tartu, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Dubai, Kaliningrad, and Moscow, as well as on three islands – Barbados, Trinidad, and Saint Martin. Some were hidden and then found in Belarus, while others continue to drift in the Caribbean Sea in the western hemisphere.
Setting Records
Along with each painting, Victoria includes a note with a personal message to the new owner of the artifact and a request to share the circumstances of the discovery. One record-setting painting, “Under the Pink Sky,” was hidden in the extreme point of Belarus – in the Vitebsk region – and was found by a local shop assistant in just five minutes! Another artifact drifted freely for 141 days, traveling from the shores of Saint Martin Island in the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida (USA), where it was found by Americans. Six more artifacts are currently drifting in the world’s oceans. However, the painting “Pear Mood,” hidden in Warsaw, has not been found yet, despite the location being checked.
Spreading Joy and Culture
Victoria chooses the locations for “losing” the paintings spontaneously. The main goal of the project is to draw people’s attention to art, create a spirit of adventure, bring joy, and foster cultural and social connections between people and nations. Those who find the bottles abroad will undoubtedly look up Belarus and learn about the country. Meanwhile, Victoria and her team get to know the locations better when they leave an artifact there.
Expanding Horizons
The number of artifacts left in Belarusian cities will continue to grow. Victoria hopes that people will smile and feel happy when they find something valuable, like a painting – a small part of a larger project that they unwittingly become a part of. More and more people are learning about the project and supporting it, both in Belarus and abroad.
The Power of Belief
Victoria’s willpower, love for people, and belief in the goodness of the project help her realize it. She is happy to share the exciting emotions with the participants of “Artifact.” However, she believes that more needs to be done to popularize and develop Belarusian art, such as translating the content of Belarusian online media into English, creating more TV shows about art, and providing more spaces for artists to work together and realize their creative ideas.
For more information about Victoria Valyuk and her projects, you can visit her Saatchi Art profile.
