Mural on Ukrainian woman offering a Russian soldier sunflower seeds to put in his pockets so that they would bloom when he died

Street Artist Amanda Newman

By Amanda Newman at 3-11 Russell St, Essendon in Melbourne, Australia. Photos by World Street Art Hunter.

Amanda Newman: This piece is about hope and resilience. A video circulated at the beginning of the war showing a Ukrainian woman offering a Russian soldier sunflower seeds to put in his pockets so that they would bloom when he died. This image has stuck with me.

The bravery of the woman. Beauty sprouting from something awful. A sunflower (Ukraine’s national flower) symbolising the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the hope that they would not only survive, but prosper, in the wake of evil. A nightingale (Ukraine’s national bird) singing with sweet victory and hope for the future. A young girl in traditional Ukrainian clothing, sowing the seeds of her identity so that her culture is not lost.

This mural is part of a larger campaign #art4ukraineAus to raise money and awareness for the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine. There will be a fundraiser at Off the Kerb Gallery soon- follow their page for updates. My heart goes out to all those in Ukraine and beyond who have suffered and been displaced. #istandwithukraine

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