Valentina Duben

Way to Hope was born from the deep pain caused by the war in Ukraine. The woman in the painting is a collective image of a mother, a soldier, a beloved, a guardian angel. She is saving a child from fire — a symbol of love, strength, and hope. She walks through wheat fields from a burning city, along a magical road — a path of longing, leading to peace, to life, to the simple joy of human existence. It is a road of hope, both dreamed and needed. Inscribed in the upper corners of the painting are the words: “Good always triumphs over evil, and light always overcomes darkness.” This piece honors the courage and hope of the Ukrainian people — and everyone who believes in the quiet power of light over darkness, of hope over despair.

Born in Ukraine, I have drawn since childhood, inspired by nature, color, and the spirit of traditional culture. Living in Italy deepened my love for medieval art and gold. My work blends painting and sculpture, shaped by years of creating one-of-a-kind collector dolls. Now based in the UK, I return to color and form to better understand myself, others, and the beauty of life. My recent works are deeply personal responses to the war in Ukraine.