This is very moving to watch, and I have no idea how she does this so quickly. Just beautiful. The text and link were sent to me yesterday, and I am eager to share it with you all here.

--------------------------------
This video shows the winner of "Ukraine’s Got Talent," Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.  Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.

The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears, and she won the top prize of about £75,000.

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple, sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry  sky, but then warplanes appear, and the happy  scene is obliterated.

It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives, and the woman smiles again. Once again, war returns, and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears.

She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside, and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying  goodbye.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population’s being killed, with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.

Kseniya  Simonova says:  "I find  it difficult enough to create art using paper  and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And, there’s surely no bigger compliment."

Please take time out to see this amazing piece of art ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vOhf3OvRXKg

Thank you, b2!

That's fascinating!
Her ability to show change with such a flowing technique seems sort of mystical. Drawing is an art form that is supposed to get an immediate response from viewers --then add to that her evolving story and it becomes almost overwhelming. And she is such a sprite!
Beeautiful!

Bets

Yes, it's amazing!

Spooky

Amazing indeed...

Just a couple of comments:


wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 7:08pm:

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside, and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying  goodbye. The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population’s being killed, with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.

1. In the final scene the man behind the glass doesn't say anything, but the sign on the glass says: "You are always with us".
2. "The Great Patriotic War"(1941-1945) as it is called not only in Ukraine, but in all former USSR parts (republics) including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus... and others (15 total).
Total casualties estimated as 25-30 millions (USSR) and 15-20 millions on German side.
3. To truly enjoy this amazing performance one has to understand the lyrics of the songs in the background - it's been written during the War and shortly after.
It's impossible to translate, but believe me - it's absolutely beautiful...

Thank you,
SL