Russian-Montrealer painting for Ukrainian aid
Posted April 21, 2022 11:04 am.
Russian-born Montrealer Pavel Sokov’s career was jump-started after he was commissioned to do a portrait of Vladimir Putin for Time Magazine in 2014. But after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sokov is using his paintbrush for good and helping fundraise for Ukrainian families in desperate need.
“When it happened, my entire world view my understanding of humanity, the world and the motivations of people that control it completely got flipped upside down,” explained Sokov.
Sokov has been outspoken against Putin’s actions posting to his Instagram page – even creating a short video. When it wasn’t bringing about the change he wanted he decided to go another way.
“The first thought was that I can paint my representation of the Ukrainian spirit, or at least the way I view it and donate it and see if I can sell prints and raise some money and maybe help some Ukrainian families in need.”
And that’s what he did within a mere 25 hours he completed the Cossack Warrior.
“Cossacks were a freedom-loving people,” he explained. “That is self-determined and wants to determine the course of his people.
“And that’s what I think Ukraine is doing now, is they’re fighting for their freedom and their democracy and their right to choose their path and who they want to be influenced by and where they want to go.”
The original sold in 12 hours for $10,000, but Sokov says he is trying to sell more affordable renditions of the painting via digital prints in the hope to raise more funds.
“So overall, with the help of prince and this, I was able to raise about $13,000, which will help 13 families. So I’m very happy about that.”
Determined for the money to be given to Ukrainians in need, Sokov is working with a Montreal – Russian newspaper in order to facilitate this. For now, he is urging everyone to educate themselves about what is happening in Ukraine and to help as much as they can.
