Yevgeniya Pogranichnaya
GRODNO, 7 February (BelTA) - How the logo for the Year of the Belarusian Woman was born and what it embodies was explained by its designer, photographer Yevgeniya Pogranichnaya from Volkovysk, an activist of the youth wing of the district branch of the Belarusian Women’s Union in an interview to BelTA.
“In a Belarusian woman, tenderness and strength are united. She proudly preserves the traditions of her people. She is wise and steadfast, caring tenderly for her family and her country. In her heart lives love for her native land, and in her actions, the bright energy of creation and inspiration,” said Yevgeniya Pogranichnaya, describing the image of a Belarusian woman that she embodied in her work.
Her logo was unanimously selected from over 100 proposals submitted by participants in a competition initiated by the Belarusian Women’s Union. For this young resident of a district center in Grodno Oblast, it became a dream-come-true event and a great source of inspiration. “For eight years I worked in the social welfare sector, at a territorial center for social services to the population, leading a club for elderly citizens,” Yevgeniya Pogranichnaya shared about herself. “For the past five years, I’ve been passionate about photography. Last year, I took the plunge, and now the art of photography has become my life’s work.”
When the competition to design a logo dedicated to the Year of the Belarusian Woman was announced, the young photographer, together with Chairperson of the district branch of the Belarusian Women’s Union Mariya Poluden, enthusiastically set about developing sketches. “The topic turned out to be very close to me, as I am a woman myself, plus I work mostly with girls, women, and grandmothers. I understand the character and spirit of our Belarusian women. It also occurred to me that this task had something in common with the work of a photographer; I wanted to try myself in a slightly different direction,” Yevgeniya noted. “When I took on the project, I already had an idea of what to include in the logo. I envisioned the silhouette of a woman. I wanted to add cornflowers to it, as they are a traditional Belarusian flower, symbolizing purity and kindness, and also a symbol of the Belarusian Women’s Union. The colors of the Belarusian flag, green and red, and the national ornament fit organically into the concept. I particularly wanted to incorporate the ornament, because women, and Belarusians in general all honor their traditions.”
The fact that her work would represent her native Volkovysk District in the competition greatly inspired the designer. When she learned it would be presented at the national level, she said she could hardly believe it at first. Then, just a few days later, Yevgeniya received word that her logo had been chosen as the best. “The feeling was indescribable. The logo for the Year of the Belarusian Woman was seen by the entire country. I started receiving many messages from acquaintances in different places, and especially from fellow locals. People write that they are already seeing the logo in cities, and residents of Volkovysk are proud that the symbol of the Year of the Belarusian Woman was born in our district,” Yevgeniya Pogranichnaya added.
This young woman from an ordinary, and therefore beautiful and well-developed, Belarusian district center is one of the millions of Belarusian women whose traits she embodied in her work. Yevgeniya is not only a creative individual, a person capable of realizing her dream, but also a happy wife and mother of two children: 14-year-old son Aleksei and six-year-old daughter Alisa. “Our pride,” is how she speaks of her spouse. Anton Pogranichny is a serviceman, the commander of a specialist canine handler group in military unit 7404. Giving attention to everyone and caring for her family is an important and cherished part of her life.
At the same time, Yevgeniya does not intend to abandon this new creative direction in which she has so brilliantly and beautifully tested herself. “I will continue to develop. Perhaps I will take some specialized courses. I enjoy inventing something new and interesting. I will definitely continue,” the young Belarusian woman said.
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