Talks Under 30: “I am completely integrated in Porto”, confesses Ukrainian artist Alla Kravchenko

Alla Kravchenko was born 30 years ago in Odessa. Her grandmother still lives there, with whom she grew up and admires for many reasons. One of them is the resilience in times of war. She admits missing her hometown but feels integrated in Porto. Independent from an early age, she built her identity, always linked to arts. She created her own brand: Nuró, a word that takes her to Ukraine.

Tell me a little about yourself, your childhood…

I grew up in Odessa, a Ukrainian city, located in the Black Sea region. My memories are of the beach, the warm weather. We lived in a house with a backyard. Therefore, I was always there, with my grandmother from my mother’s side, with whom I have a very strong bond. My parents became parents at an early age, and she was the one who raised me. Even today, she likes crafts, knitting, embroidery, sewing. I ended up liking it as well, because of her. I lived in Ukraine until I was 12. It was not that long. Oddly enough, I have been in Portugal longer than in Ukraine.

Why Portugal?

It was not my choice. My parents emigrated when I was eight. At the time, life in Ukraine was not very good and they came looking for a better future. I believe they chose Portugal because of my Godparents who already lived here. That was the connection they had so they would not feel too helpless in a new country. They came to live in the centre (Anadia). After four years later they brought me in. It was not my choice to emigrate. It was very difficult for me at the time, for I had lived there my entire life.

How did you end up in Porto?

I left home very early. I was 16. I studied in Coimbra, lived in Lousã, and then came here. Why Porto? Lousã had a rural atmosphere, which I really liked, but I felt the lack of creative people around me. I was 19, an artist and wanted a more creative environment. Between Porto and Lisbon, the choice was easy. I related much more with Porto, because, despite being a big city, people are friendlier, more at ease. Lisbon was too capital. This was 10 years ago, and I do not regret it.

Are you integrated?

I am fully integrated in Porto.

You have talked a lot about your grandmother. Is she your inspiration?

Definitely. She is very strong, resilient. She is alone in Ukraine but is a very resourceful woman. She can do everything. I believe I have learnt from her to be like that too.

What does Nuró, a word that takes you back to Ukraine, mean?

It is an identical word in Russian and Ukrainian. It is something internal. I use it metaphorically, for something internal, like intuition. Because my work is very intuitive, I thought nuró could describe everything I do.

In other words, inspiration comes directly from you, without following any pattern?

I am too stubborn to follow artistic patterns. That is why I did not go to college.

I imagine that the war completely changed your life. At the very least in knowing that your loved ones and those you know are safe.

The war took a huge toll on me. Now, more than a year after, I deal better with it, despite it always leaves me anxious. I have been waiting for a year and a half to be able to go there. It seems like no moment is safe, nor my grandmother wants me to go. I went there shortly before the war started, in September 2021 [the war began in February 2022]. At first, it was very difficult because I felt useless. It was difficult for me to deal with people. I closed myself off a little for months, always watching the news. Later I realized that was not healthy because you are always watching that, but there is nothing you can do. I maintain constant contact, via internet, with my grandmother. Knowing she is doing well, helps me.

Is it easy to manage that distance?

These days I try not to think about that. At first, I found myself thinking that if something happened to my grandmother, I would not be able to deal with the situation. Right now, I try not to think about it. She helps me because she is less emotional than me. Instead of being me supporting her is the other way around. She likes that I send her pictures of my walks around Porto and beyond. Recently she sent me travel videos and told me: “I am sitting here in the couch, traveling”.

How do you see the support, already publicly expressed, by many Porto residents in favour of Ukraine?

There is a very large community of Ukrainians in Portugal and also here in Porto. Now, they associate us with war, but in the past, many Portuguese people had worked or lived with Ukrainians and already spoke fondly of us. Overall, they always had a good opinion of Ukrainians. Therefore, it was easy for the people of Porto, and the Portuguese in general, to relate with the Ukrainians because it is a culture they know, due to that connection from recent years.

Going back to Odessa, is that idea excluded?

The trip I took in September 2021, it was the first time, after being in Portugal for 17 years, that I thought I could go back and live there. I did a field and market study. I was considering it, but in cultural terms, I am also very different. I am more used to being here. Sometimes it is difficult to speak in my native language. Most of the Odessa inhabitants speak Russian. It is already very difficult, in cognitive terms, to manage the entire situation, let alone change the entire language you have learnt. Obviously, I consider going back one day. My aunt told me that I have these thoughts because it was not my decision to leave. It seems like something is missing. I miss Odessa a lot.

Has Porto already inspired you to create any of your products?

I am inspired by the city’s architecture. I fell in love with this room, transformed into a studio, because Teatro Nacional São João [next door] reminds me of Odessa. My city’s architecture is, predominantly, French, and Italian. Here, I love the mix of the dirty tiles with modernity. The city has a certain life, a soul, a very beautiful history. I love people from Porto. They speak sincerely.

What is Porto for you?

It is a mix. For example, when I go to Lisbon, I get tired, I come to Porto, and it feels like I am back to my “village”. Here you can still feel the warmth of people.