Concept
For the thesis project, which comprised three chapters, a tripartite work titled «Our Names» was created. It references the creative pseudonyms of my grandmother and me: I am Lily (Liza) Lebed, and she is Valentina Lan (Sinyaya). Thus, through linocut—a painstaking and labor-intensive technique—I capture our connection.
Thesis Description: My grandmother is an artist from the Far East who has spent many years daily drawing animals from the Eastern calendar. Returning to the places of her childhood, I attempt to unravel a family myth interwoven with unfulfilled dreams, loss, and mental health challenges. Through our shared past, I seek what helps endure difficult times and preserve the joy of creativity.
«Our Names.» Linocut. Lily Lebed. 2026. 210 × 420 mm.
The work is inspired by Takashi Kitano’s film Fireworks (1997). A secondary character, a police officer, loses the ability to walk after an injury. However, he finds solace in simple, daily drawing, creating images of animals with flower-shaped heads.
Takeshi Kitano, «Fireworks» (1997)
«Wild tiger lilies grow only in the Far East. My grandmother used to love drawing them. Now, this is my name, ” my narrative concludes with this phrase.
