Shot Figure

"Shot Figure" embodies the pain and shock of the events unfolding in Ukraine, particularly the trauma that war inflicts on women. Her works raise questions not only about physical but also psychological vulnerability, as the wounds on the figure remind us of the devaluation of human life in war and the instability of our existence in the context of armed conflict.

The form and materials used by Kulikovska create a distinct atmosphere of fragility. The sculpture appears as if it is melting, yet at the same time remains static, seemingly doomed to be frozen in a moment of pain and suffering. The transparent epoxy resin, which envelops the inner layer of colors and textures, symbolizes skin that conceals yet partially reveals the wounds inflicted by war. In this transparency, Kulikovska unveils the bodies of women who are simultaneously victims and symbols of resilience.

This work also serves as a reminder of powerlessness and struggle. In the process of “shooting” her sculptures, when Kulikovska literally shot them with bullets, the artist sought to find a way to respond to traumatic experiences through creativity. This is not only a personal act of the artist but also a powerful statement on the absence of humanity in war. Her works compel the viewer to reflect on how society approaches the understanding of conflict, how it treats bodies that have suffered as a result of war.

Maria Kulikovska also uses her sculptures as a protest against the objectification and devaluation of the female body, which often becomes a target of violence and abuse in military conflicts. She raises questions about the value and respect for life and the body, which are easily ignored in the context of war crimes. With this image of a shot, wounded female figure, Kulikovska communicates a harsh truth: women also suffer and become victims; their pain and trauma are also worthy of recognition.

War and the artist’s personal experience emerge in "Shot Figures" not merely as political or social phenomena but as trauma that physically and emotionally impacts people. Kulikovska creates sculptures that can be perceived as memorials to the invisible victims of war—those whose stories are silenced, whose suffering often goes unnoticed. This work becomes a powerful visual appeal to all who view it, forcing them to contemplate the fragility of life and the high cost of conflict.

‍

– Sviatoslav Mykhailov