Maryna’s project titled “Severed Ties” is a project about inner pain and state of tension, which were caused by war events in Ukraine. It tells about the fear of possible loss of family ties and about one’s fear of returning home. About breaking ties with the family: between mother and child - and father, between grandmother and grandfather - and granddaughter, between the native space of one’s house - and the space of the residence number, between one’s home country - and another country.

The author draws an analogy between family ties (non-physical) and various physical knots that are created from imaginary thick threads. Various knots in different forms and variations, where the limbs are torn, are composed in such a way as to convey to the viewer that state of rupture and uncertainty. Ceramic objects made of clay and fireclay are fired in a ceramic furnace in such a way that the ceramics acquire a black colour according to the author’s intention to show the dark emotions and states brought by war.