Tamara Safarova @ open space
25. June 2026 - 27. September 2026
Mister Travchyk
Through her comic project “Mister Travchyk,” Tamara Safarova explores what it means to be different, the search for a sense of home, and forms of care in a time of uncertainty and change. Safarova began her project on February 23, 2022, one day before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since then, “Mister Travchyk” has grown into a multifaceted project comprising drawings, printed comic zines, performative readings, and participatory workshops. Tamara Safarova has curated a selection of her works for the exhibition at open space.
Exhibition
“Mister Travchyk” (derived from the Ukrainian word *trava* for grass) is a comic project by Ukrainian artist Tamara Safarova, created between 2022 and 2025. At the heart of the work is the story of a character who feels different and is searching for a sense of belonging, home, and connection. Through its naive, vulnerable, and at the same time open-hearted main character, the work explores themes such as otherness, empathy, care, and community. At the same time, it encourages reflection on treating all forms of life with respect—both human and non-human. The project began on February 23, 2022, one day before Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. It subsequently evolved into an artistic space where experiences could be processed, connections maintained, and new forms of coexistence and mutual care explored in times of uncertainty and change. “Mister Travchyk” exists in various formats, including drawings, comic zines, performative readings, and participatory workshops. Through the interplay of image, text, voice, and communal participation, the project becomes a collective experience that connects people through storytelling, empathy, and imagination.
The exhibition can be seen during the regular opening hours of the open art museum, St.Gallen in the open space in the foyer. Admission to the exhibition is free.
Tamara Safarova
Tamara Safarova (b. 1992) is a Ukrainian artist of Azerbaijani descent who lives and works in Kyiv. In her work, she explores issues of identity, memory, cultural heritage, gender, trauma, and transformation. She employs a variety of media, including printmaking, painting, comics, digital formats, and performance. Safarova’s artistic practice transcends anthropocentric perspectives and focuses on the interconnections between humans, nature, and the environment. She understands the body as a resonant space where landscape, memory, and change converge. Her visual language connects personal experiences with mythical, social, and political dimensions, while remaining rooted in nature and the complex realities of post-Soviet and postcolonial contexts.
Her first solo exhibition was held at the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart in 2022. Since then, her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Santa Maria delle Grazie (Venice), the Kühlhaus Berlin, the Riga City Council, the National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Art, the Mystetskyi Arsenal in Kyiv, and the Poltava Art Museum.
