The story of the mosaic studio created by Tetiana Rodkina is not just about art, but also about a journey of healing and strength amidst war.
Tetiana shares her dream, which emerged in her youth, and how, despite all the challenges, she managed to realize it. In her studio, she conducts master classes and workshops, helping people express their emotions through art. Tetiana has been working with mosaics for nine years, teaching both children and adults, and creating large-scale works, including for the "Come Back Alive" fund. In the new issue of the special project "Kashtan Business," she discusses her current dreams, the importance of Eastern Ukraine themes in her work, and how mosaics are created.
About war, the east, and pain
“I have some roots from the east: my grandfather is from Donetsk, and my great-grandfather was a miner. Life there was hard, and it pains me deeply to see the unfair treatment of people from Eastern Ukraine. When the war began, I constantly heard in 2014 that they were to blame themselves, that they were ‘separatists,’ and so on. But that is very unfair,” Tetiana notes.
In her work, she tries to debunk stereotypes and show the east as an integral part of Ukraine.
“The east is an inseparable part of Ukraine, for which many lives have been devoted,” she emphasizes.
One of Tetiana's most emotional works is a mosaic inspired by the story of a close person who defended one of Ukraine's forests.
“I have never been there, but my close person defended this forest and constantly sent me photos. With this mosaic, I wanted to convey that everything the Russians touch becomes simply dead. I depicted the trees as mirrors, reminiscent of ghosts,” the girl explains.
1 Full-scale invasion and relocation
Before the full-scale invasion, Tetiana lived with her family in the village of Gorenka, near Kyiv.
“We met the full-scale invasion in Gorenka. This village is near Kyiv, close to Pushcha-Vodytsia. We joined the Territorial Defense, but my mother and I were not accepted. They said, ‘Stay in the basements.’ We made Molotov cocktails. The Russians did not reach Gorenka thanks to the Ukrainian military. On March 7, we evacuated because all the houses around ours had been burned,” Tetiana recalls.
The birth of a dream
Tetiana's acquaintance with mosaics began by chance.
“I just mistook the door and ended up in a mosaic studio,” she recounts.
Since then, her passion for this art form has only grown. She has been working with mosaics for nine years.
“In 2021, I started teaching mosaics to children. I was scared to work with adults, as I felt too young for it. But after the onset of the full-scale war, I realized that I needed to act,” the artist confesses.
Establishing her own studio was the result of a dream that began when she was just 16.
2 A studio that unites
The mosaic studio "Tsilisno" was founded by Tetiana Rodkina in 2022.
“After the full-scale invasion began, I thought about where I could be most useful. I started conducting charity workshops to raise money. And then I thought, well, it’s scary, but I need to do it,” the artist recalls.
The name emerged organically: it is a word Tetiana hears most frequently in her workshops.
“Wholeness is not only about mosaics but also about life. I want everything to be harmonious,” she says.
In the studio, they work with various materials: hand-made ceramics, glass, tiles. Often, these are items that are no longer needed, and Tetiana gives them a second life.
3 “People start by choosing materials they like. It’s like a symbol: finding your place among the fragments,” Tetiana explains.
The studio space accommodates 10-12 people, although sometimes more can fit. Each master class begins with the selection of materials, emphasizing the importance of an individual approach to creativity.
“We have a reuse cabinet with hand-made ceramics, glass, mirrors, and tiles—all sorted by color. I send people to choose what resonates with them; this is the first step into the creative world,” the artist shares.
After that, participants learn how to work with materials: how to properly cut modules using special cutters to achieve even pieces, such as rectangles. The selected modules are then laid out on a base, and a mosaic is born.
“I love giving materials a second life. People bring broken cups, ceramic studios donate scraps, sorting points provide shattered items. All of this comes to life in the mosaic, gaining new beauty and shine,” Tetiana adds.
Mosaic stories: unique projects by Tetiana
Tetiana has already implemented several large-scale and significant projects.
One of the works is a 3x3 meter mosaic created in the "Misto" bookstore. It was made together with a student.
Another important project is a mosaic created with students for a collective psychotherapy room for military personnel located on the grounds of the Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital.
4 Another significant work was completed last year for the "Come Back Alive" fund. The mosaic dedicated to the activities of air defense became part of a fundraising campaign to equip mobile groups.
“This mosaic was special. We made it very quickly; the deadlines were absolutely crazy—only 18 days. Its height was 2.5 meters. We handcrafted each module of the mosaic,” Tetiana shares.
“I really enjoy the feeling of seeing immediate results in mosaics. I know how hard it is to live without seeing results, and that can lead to demotivation,” she adds.
About Kyiv
For Tetiana Rodkina, Kyiv is not just the capital; it is her beloved hometown.
“I love it very much, but it is so specific. The pace of life here is fast, and it doesn’t suit everyone. There is a combination of cringe-worthy construction and historical heritage,” says the founder of the mosaic studio.
“I really love the metro. A few years ago, I had the idea of creating a mosaic metro token and, later, a metro map. This idea resonated with people,” Tetiana adds.
5 A dream and wholeness
Tetiana believes that everything starts with a dream.
“Currently, I dream that all my relatives and loved ones are alive. Also, that my studio continues to exist. I will do everything for that,” she says.
Tetiana Rodkina exemplifies how mosaics are not just art but also a way to unite the fragments of life into something whole and beautiful.
For more details, watch the new issue of the special project "Kashtan.Business" at the link.