At the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), students traverse various artistic mediums, utilizing their creativity to articulate stories that reflect their personal, cultural, and socio-political encounters.
The Herald engaged with several RISD students, including Sofia Zhuk-Vasilyeva, Rozella Kim, Mia Wang, Florian Okwu, and Paree Rohera, shedding light on their distinctive approaches to storytelling through their artwork.
Sofia Zhuk-Vasilyeva, a senior at RISD, drew inspiration for her apparel design thesis project from her surname, “Zhuk,” which translates to “beetles” in Ukrainian. Her project revolves around a character called “beetle girl,” portrayed through meticulously crafted tailored jackets, establishing an alternate universe for this persona. Zhuk described her as a “fantastical hero” embracing a fiercely bold and gritty femininity.
Beyond the creative narrative of “beetle girl,” Zhuk’s work resonates with political significance. Being of Mongolian and Ukrainian descent, she feels compelled to use her art to shed light on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
Zhuk paid homage to the Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko through a denim jacket, aiming to symbolize the devastation of Prymachenko’s art caused by Russian missiles. Expressing her distress, Zhuk highlighted the heartbreak felt upon learning about the potential loss and destruction of Prymachenko’s invaluable work.
Headwear has emerged as a recurring motif in Zhuk’s creations. She views it as an essential accessory, pivotal to completing her artistic expression. Initially influenced by Mongolian headdresses worn at weddings, Zhuk sought to embrace her Mongolian heritage and Asian identity through this incorporation.
Zhuk’s artistic journey at RISD is a vivid reflection of how art, for her and her fellow students, becomes a vehicle for personal expression, cultural representation, and addressing critical social and political issues.
