From Bunny Rabbits to Bomb Shelters, Illustrator Turned Activist
On February 28, 2022 Ukrainian illustrator Oksana Drachkovska fled her country to find refuge in Barcelona, Spain.
Artists are some of the world’s most important activists, helping us to make meaning from human folly and tragedy. They help translate emotions into something tangible we can understand. Oksana Drachkovska built her art career working with publishing houses and magazines, earning notoriety and prizes for her illustration of children’s books. In 2020, her book The Jumpless Bunny and His Brave Mother won Best Literature for Children from ages six to eight in Ukraine’s Lviv Book Fair.
On February 28, 2022, Oksana packed her bags to escape Lviv, not sure if or when she would ever return. She fled a home she knew and loved, leaving friends and family behind or scattered across neighbouring countries. Her journey led her to Barcelona, where she found refuge in the homes of fellow artists and art lovers. In her new home, Oksana continued to draw, but her subjects changed dramatically. She is one of many artists and illustrators sharing perspectives on the war that is ravaging her home country for more than two and a half years.
