Katerina Kudryavtseva’s story for OCA People

OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / work.

Katerina Kudryavtseva: In my youth I was a professional ballerina, I graduated from one of the best ballet institutions in Russia – the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. I left the stage after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She became a scientist and defended her doctorate in cultural studies. I worked as a journalist, began to write literary texts, and became an artist.

Before my illness, I was afraid of large canvases and my ignorance of some artistic laws. The illness helped me, I took a brush in my left hand, as it was difficult to work with my right hand, and started to paint on large canvases. I also began to paint with my feet, first to develop my body, then I realised that it was opening up my subconscious. I am now recovering from my illness and my paintings are taking on new facets.

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative space or life?

KK: I don’t know whether I chose the path or the path chose me. When I became ill, I started helping others, teaching ballet to disabled people and organising camps for the disabled. It’s unlikely that I would have done this before the illness, dancing in the theatre in good health.
The illness has forced me to seek and find ways out for myself and others.
Teachers and examples – my mother, a model of unbreakable loyalty and support. Psychotherapist Gennady Filippov, thanks to whom I was cured. Ballerina Evgenia Farmanyants, who taught me to dance with my soul, and the director of the Guild, Marat Akhmedjanov, who gave me wings.

OCA: What is your main achievement in 2023-2024?

KK: Cure from the disease. Professionally – holding personal international and Russian art exhibitions.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?

KK: I have always worked and painted despite and because of my difficulties. This is how the ‘Dance on Canvas’ project came about. I lost my ability to dance on stage, but I started to dance with my feet on the canvas. I can’t paint with my right hand, I take the brush in my left hand and new inner facets open up.

OCA: Tell us, please, about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects that you have already taken part in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?

KK: I participated in the 2023 Guild Festival in Burabay and took my paintings abroad for the first time. Thanks to the support of Marat Akhmetyuzhanov, I began to organise Guild meetings at my home, as well as my personal creative meetings in new, larger venues, such as the vernissage at the Senpolia Restaurant (Moscow). My circle of acquaintances and creatively useful contacts has expanded considerably.

OCA: What is your motivation and the main aim of your creativity?

KK: Motivation – the joy of my children and the grateful smiles of others. The goal is to help as many people as possible to want to live and create.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people, just starting their career?

KK: Believe in yourself and in what you want. Nothing is impossible in this world. Here it is difficult, but not impossible.