Teacher of the educational and cultural center "Dyvosvit" and participant of the exhibition Fashion&Profession Nadiia Sokolchuk knows what it's like to master another profession. She told for Prospekt shopping mall about the factors that motivate her to go shopping, and stereotypes about drawing. 

"I never thought about becoming a teacher. As a child, I dreamed of drawing and organizing solo exhibitions. And I gradually realized all this in my adult life: I studied at an art and industrial technical school, worked as a designer, and designed shop windows. However, with the arrival of two children, I realized that I could not devote myself to design work as before. I decided to look for a job – perhaps less paid, but with more stable earnings. 

A friend, having learned about my search, offered to lead a drawing club. I agreed, but I had no idea how I would work with children. Therefore, at first, I prepared for each lesson for 3-4 days. But over time, everything got back to normal, and I began to feel more confident in class and improvise more. I have my own teaching skills. 

Actually, my childhood dream has almost come true: I organize exhibitions, although not my own, but student ones. Sometimes I hear the stereotypical opinion that only talented people can learn fine arts. Yes, perhaps to become a professional artist, you should be born with this gift (although here you can not do without a huge ability to work). However, in order to simply learn to draw, you only need excitement and a desire to create. 

Another stereotype that you have to face in the profession is the uselessness of drawing as a school subject. They say that children already have a big load, why do they need an additional burden? I am against removing drawing from the program, because creativity develops a person. A person who can create something is never bored. In addition, through drawing, they can express any of their emotional states, and awareness of art helps them always find an interesting interlocutor. However, fine arts should be read in schools by professional people, and not by teachers of other subjects.

I've always had before me the example of my own uncle, people's artist of Ukraine Mykola Andriiovych Storozhenko. He achieved incredible skill and height in painting, book graphics, and monumental painting. He passed on his knowledge and skills to students at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture. And what is most interesting and important, Mykola Andriiovych did not just teach students to draw – he taught them to look for vivid images, forms and meanings. Probably, this creative approach and search for novelty influenced my perception of what a teacher should be like.
 
My teachers from the club and from school became a certain reference point. My first drawing teacher was Olena Davydivna at the Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth (then the Palace of Pioneers). Kind, gentle, affectionate, fragile person. I also often remember teachers from my 129th school: Mariia Hryhorivna Mitus (History), Tamara Oleksandrivna (Russian language, Literature), Sofiia Ivanivna (Ukrainian language, Literature).

Fortunately, the profession of a fine arts teacher does not require a business style, suits and high heels. In general, those things in which I would feel uncomfortable and constrained. Therefore, I can safely go to work in gray jeans and a black spacious shirt (the first look for the exhibition in Prospekt shopping mall). The latter, in addition, has two significant advantages. First, it does not need to be ironed. Secondly, it becomes more elegant if you add an interesting accessory to it: a scarf, beads, etc. Then the look may even be suitable for going to a museum or gallery. 

I notice that with age, my style has become more restrained, calm and somewhat less bright. Perhaps this was also influenced by the profession. After all, students should work intently, and not be distracted by my appearance. 

Season, mood, and necessity are the three factors that make me go shopping. I usually buy new clothes to replace damaged items. Occasionally it happens that I pass by the store, notice in the window a thing that meets my preferences, and buy it (if the right size is available)." 

Exhibition Fashion&Profession in Prospekt shopping mall will last until June 14.