OCA PEOPLE: OLGA IGUMNOVA

OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / work
Olga Igumnova: I was born in Kharkov, Ukraine in 1969 and lived, studied and worked in Volgograd most of my life till 2006. Then I studied and worked in Italy and moved to the United Kingdom in 2010. From childhood I have been involved in various creative projects in literature, music, arts as a participant, a supporter or an organiser and have published several articles and books.

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

OI: I was fortunate to continue some of our family traditions: my grandfather Victor Igumnov was a Russian language and literature teacher, a writer and a poet, and my grandfather Michael Melnik, though being a professional engineer, was a talented musician as well. That’s why I think it is natural for members of my wider family, my parents, siblings and me to be interested in art, literature and music. And I am so grateful for my parents, my Mum, teachers and tutors at school, at Volgograd International Friendship Club and Volgograd state University that they helped me with foreign languages and cultures of the world.

OCA: What is your main achievement in 2023-2024?
OI: “Coventry Peace Angels” occurred to become my main project in 2024. My friend, a Coventry artist originally from Madrid Maria Layla created a series of sketches for our Angels Almanack. The same sketches have become the inspiration for Coventry collection for “Moda per la Pace” /“Fashion for Peace” festival in Livorno, Italy which took place on June the 15th 2024. The UK presentation of Peace Angels was held on September the 21st, the International Peace Day 2024 in Coventry, UK city of Peace and Reconciliation.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
OI: The very fact the family I come from and belong is rooted in various part of Eurasia influences my actions, professional activities and creativity: it has to contribute to harmony, understanding, peace. We do not always know what kind of personal situations people surrounding us are going through at the moment, and still we are able to send them the message of support through art, literature, music, fashion and other forms of creativity.

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?
OI: I sent the video story about “Moda per la Pace” / “Fashion for Peace” and “Art. Fashion. Peace” festivals in Livorno and Coventry for the Eurasia Creative Guild “Voices of Friends” event in September 2024. It got a good response from then so we presented the project in Volgograd and Moscow in October 2024 and headed for several new destinations soon. I am very glad to meet new similar minded friends with the help of Eurasia Creative Guild.

OCA: What is your motivation and the main aim of your creativity?
OI: The main motivation is cooperation with Life itself – everyday brings the new opportunities and
inspirations, through the meetings with people, their views, ideas, different perceptions of life. Communication with other human beings can be challenging very often, all of us have experienced that. Nevertheless, creativity – the Divine and of humans – is the main source of perfect joy and love in life, experiencing which is the main reason for our existence on this Earth in my opinion.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people, just starting their career?
OI: I would like to wish to each and all of us to experience the moments of perfect joy every day. And what is more important – to be able to create such moments of harmony, peace and love for ourselves and people who are able to appreciate them. Thank you very much for your kind attention.