In this column, Ukrainian illustrator Anna Sarvira takes over. How does it feel to be safe and yet knowing that your home is being destroyed? She reflects on the complexity to process the terrible news, feeling guilty, having a comfortable bed to sleep in, and the beauty of the coming spring at the same time.
She is an illustrator and co-founder of the Pictoric Illustrators Club. Before the outbreak of the war of aggression, she curated and organized national and international exhibitions together with two friends.
Now she writes and draws about the heavy simultaneity of the coming spring and violent death. About falling asleep, waking up and feeling guilty.
- Susi Bumms
And I don’t know what to say. I’m safe, yes. My family and friends are alive, yes.
But every day I see people in my country being killed. Cities, towns and villages in my country being destroyed. And I can‘t stop thinking about that.
![I'm safe Illustrated: To the left, a figure sitting in the dark, bombs in the air; to the right, a person in the bathroom brushing their teeth](/resources/files/jpg1139/bild-1-formatkey-jpg-w983.jpg)
![I can't sleep Illustrated: A figure lying in bed, thinking about houses being destroyed](/resources/files/jpg1139/bild-2-formatkey-jpg-w983.jpg)
![Wrong nature Illustrated: A person going grocery shopping, the sun is shining, on the left hand corner there are black and white figures against a grey backdrop](/resources/files/jpg1139/bild-3-formatkey-jpg-w983.jpg)
“Frankly...“
On an alternating basis each week, our “Frankly ...” column series is written by Susi Bumms, Maximilian Buddenbohm, Sineb el Masrar and Marie Leão. In the “Frankly…visual” column, Susi Bumms observes pop culture and politics, commenting on what she sees through cartoons and pictures.
April 2022