Mixed media by Julia Datchenko

This papercut is a prayer to the Earth, a symbol of gratitude, humility, and rebirth. The woman here is the embodiment of humanity bowing before Mother Nature, acknowledging her power and holiness. This work is philosophical in nature, about the unity of man with nature, about female power as the source of life, and about gratitude to the world that sustains us. The woman lying on the ground is an image of Mother Earth and, at the same time, a person who gives thanks and prays. It is an act of deep respect for nature, for one's roots, for life. In Ukrainian tradition, touching the earth meant honoring it as a living being that feeds and protects. The trees on the woman's back symbolize that all life is born from and through humans when they are in harmony with the world. Trees represent growth, life, the connection between generations, and the memory of the family. Birds represent souls, prayers, the spiritual beginning, freedom, and the desire for the sky. Bird eggs on the ground symbolize the birth of new life, purity, the beginning, and the potential for creation. This is the most delicate symbol of hope, showing that even after a fall or sorrow, life goes on.