Ton (Tonya)
Melnyk

Bio

Ton (Tonya) Melnyk

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1988. Graduated from Kyiv National University of Technology and Design, courses of contemporary art in Kyiv (in 2014) and School of engaged art in St. Petersburg (in 2015). Since 2015 – is co-founder and participant of sewing cooperative Shvemy (Kyiv - St. Petersburg), in 2016 – of sewing cooperative ReSew (Kyiv). Textile artist, queer-feminist grassroot activist. Main media are: textiles, clothes, theatrical and performative practices, street art, video, collective practices. 

Ton about themselves: “As an artist and a person with a high level of sensitivity and awareness of vulnerable experiences I work with topics of fairly priced labor, discrimination and ways to overcome it, antiwar topics and ecology. At the same time, I am dreaming about utopia and developing the projects about the world I want to live in: without violence, exploitation, based on the principle of value of every life creature and surrounding. I love animals and plants and explore the relationships with non-human beings. As non-binary person and social activist I work a lot with community building and alternative economic projects based on horizontal relationships, consensus, non-violence communication, mutual aid and ecological principles of production. Founded by me and the same minded people sewing cooperatives are the realizations of these principles.”

Works in duet with artistic companion and partner Masha Ravlyk Lukianova. Lives in Finland under temporary protection since The end of March 2022.