Karina

Stateless

“Karina” is a portrait of the Executive Director of “United Stateless”. She along with the other members of “United Stateless” currently reside within the United States without citizenship or were recently granted citizenship after being Stateless. Karina migrated to the United States as a child from Soviet Ukraine and was unable to obtain a passport due to her age. After Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, Karina became stateless because her country of origin ceases to exist.

In the portrait, Karina is depicted in deep blues, her preferred colors. The background showcases the city of Kars, as recognized by the Castle of Kars, which holds significance as Karina’s ancestral home. Her grandparents, who escaped as children during the Armenian genocide, sought refuge in the Soviet Union. Positioned directly behind Karina is a backdrop inspired by a black and white photograph of her grandparents, which had been provided to the artist. Additionally, a traditional Armenian rug with an intricate pattern adorns the striped portion of the portrait. Sunflowers prominently displayed in the lower right corner symbolize the close ties between Armenia, one of the world’s largest purchasers of sunflower seeds, and Ukraine, the leading global producer of sunflower seeds.

A peony, Karina’s favorite flower, is placed delicately in her hair. A fitting choice because the peony carries connotations of luck, happiness, joy, beauty, passion, honor, and respect, and is considered a royal representation. Karina also wears symbols that hold a personal meaning to her, such as the Hamsa and the Armenian Kachkar. Additionally, she dons a liberty bell brooch representing Philadelphia, her cherished home shared with her husband.