‘I Believe God Is With Ukraine.’ The Artist from London Works in Bucha

British artist Alonso Gaona is working on a large canvas in one of the administrative buildings of Bucha, where the massacre of civilians by Russian troops took place three years ago.

“I came to Ukraine six years ago. My partner is Ukrainian. Ukraine is like a garden – beautiful, like a precious stone. But the most important and valuable thing here is the people. Fantastic people. That is the real treasure,” Gaona says.

He explains that he feels the need to express pain – and so he is creating a large painting measuring 3 by 12 meters. “I believe that God is with Ukraine and its people. And I felt that even before the war. This canvas is about that — about God's presence and his blessing. Of course, I’m also afraid during the shelling, like anyone else. But everyone deserves to live in peace – a just peace. And that’s what this painting is about.. … this war is ununderstandable, what Russia is doing has no excuse,” the artist says.

“There is so much beauty – incredible beauty – in the architecture, in how people shape their spaces, how they take care of them, how they communicate. It creates a sense of home. People who haven’t been to Ukraine have no idea how much beauty they’ve missed in their lives,” Gaona adds.

He says he is deeply moved by Ukrainians – they inspire him. “When I came here, I expected to see something very different, especially during the war. But people remain friendly. They greet you, they welcome you – they literally radiate light. You don’t often see that in the world,” Gaona says.

He is confident that this work will find its place in the history of art – like all works created with soul and sincerity. “I believe every generation is different – and so is their art. I belong to the older generation – I was born in 1967 – and back then, the perception of art was different. Art is like a diary. Every artwork leaves its mark on history,” he says.

The time and location of the painting’s exhibition are still unknown, but it is expected to eventually find its place in Bucha.