I am Nelli Isupova, an artist from Ukraine. My mother was an artist and really wanted her children — me and my two brothers — to become artists as well. So from childhood, we were enrolled in all kinds of art studios and clubs. We were always drawing. But later my brothers said that art was not a “man’s profession.” Now, my older brother is a Doctor of Sciences and works in nanotechnology. The second one is in a different field too. So, they didn’t become artists. My story is different. For me, my mother became my first teacher and constant source of inspiration.
I create interesting, unusual ceramics. It’s bright and harmonious — just like Ukraine itself. And I have a special, magical item. It’s a vase that belonged to my mother, which she earned in a landscape design competition. She used to participate in various contests and exhibitions and would receive prizes for winning, as monetary rewards weren’t given at that time. These prizes were important to her because they symbolized recognition of her artistic work. She used to keep money in that vase and joked that if there were ever a fire or something else, the money would be safe. When my mother passed away, every family member took something to remember her by. I took this vase. Carrying on her tradition, I also keep money in it. It’s like a magical pot that brews money.