ELENA ANANYEVA: “WE CANNOT HIDE OUR HEADS
IN THE SAND.”

CA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity?

Elena Ananyeva: I am, Elena Ananyeva, the head of the association “Gloria”, the registered “Freundschaft-Brücke Gloria” e. V. /registrirte assotiation in Germany, Dr. h. c. President of CIESART in Germany, Spain, Academician of some Academies of the world, is poet, prose writer, journalist, art and cultural critic. Born in Odessa, the author of 32 books. Contemporary lyrical poetry and psychological novels are in tune with each other. Among them are the Flight series of 5 novels: “The Code of Love”, “The Code of Power”… My poems have been used as the basis for songs and musical accompaniment. I organized a special structure within the Gloria Commonwealth: the Academy of Literary, Art and Communication/LAC, founder of the multi-level de Richelieu International competition. Participates in the literary life of different countries.

“At the intersection of interests and possibilities of implementation, something new is born.”

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative field or in life?

EA: I graduated from the Film acting studio of the Odessa Film Studio under the direction of Vasyl Levin and Kira Muratova, who became role models in creativity and life. Then the Odessa National University, Faculty of Philology. I worked and cooperated with the editorial offices of Odessa newspapers, a TV studio, was an art expert in the group of art critics at the Ministry of Culture, in the Department of Culture of the Regional State Administration Odessa, and organized exhibitions.
I learned from outstanding directors, interacted with interesting people, and absorbed their experience and the intricacies of the profession. This helped me later, especially now.

OCA: What is your main achievement(s) or positive impact on the world in 2024–2025?

EA: During Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, our Interorganization “Freundschaft-Brücke Gloria” in Germany has been actively supporting Ukraine for a just peace. Together with the National Union of Journalists, the regional Odessa branch, and Yury Rabotin, who continues to exert a positive influence, we have sent aid and created new projects and the publication of anti-war poetry books and anthologies.

In 2024, we prepared and held the International Ukrainian Festival “Friendship” in Steinbach and Frankfurt. Writers from seven countries came to us, with subsequent publication of books from their series in Canada. We now have a club room in the House of Community once a month, where we prepare for new festivals and the premiere of a play based on Goethe’s “Faust”.
The result is my new book this year: “The Crystal of Truth. The Secret of SOA, or Children of Arctics”. It contains my thoughts on my influence on the world.
OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?

EA: All my work are filled with music and rhythm. I sing Soprano in a choir (I’ve been singing in a choir for 22 years) is a pleasure, just like at exhibitions. It’s very nice to hear my voice resounding in the walls of the cathedral after a semester of rehearsals. Classical chorales in English, Italian, or French are not easy to sing in a way that makes your teeth bounce. We used it in choir performances in cathedrals, where they heard the echo of their voices in a large group… Publications on global platforms are an expansion of horizons and an echo of my ups and downs.
It gives impetus to my creativity.

OCA: Please tell us about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects you have already participated in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?

EA: My poetry collections and creative biography are published on the Guild’s website, and I also participated in one of the correspondence festivals. The leader and inspirer, an experienced organiser, Marat Akhmedjanov of the Creative Association (London) visited Odessa, where we introduced many readers to our books and creative dreams at the Hrushevsky Library. One of them is more active participation in the Guild’s real projects. One of them is to participate more actively in the Guild’s real projects, possibly voluntarily. Perhaps without the experience I gained, I wouldn’t have been able to write the new book. It features a bit of creative collaboration with the diverse Creative Guild (London).

OCA: How do you think the creative professions have changed and how has the role of art in the development of the world changed in the face of modern realities?

EA: Undoubtedly, the role of art has changed in the context of the development of artificial intelligence, with drones now even being used to wage brutal wars and aggression in Ukraine and Israel, and attacks already being made on NATO countries. We cannot hide our heads in the sand. But we need to understand the intricacies of the modern confrontation between systems. This requires a correct understanding, which is best achieved through literature and art. But this already belongs to the authorities.
There is a total rewriting of history, of the facts of the present, in which there is an attack on established values, false propaganda by the aggressor, coercion to support the invasion of a sovereign country, and then reflection in the consciousness of society, which is now in the pro-government works, parades and performances of the aggressor. More elegantly, they evoke public support, and fear begins to dictate.

But often the consciousness of the masses is clearly backward, and the struggle for peace and demonstrations often go in support of the aggressors, such as those who attacked Ukraine and Israel, who clearly have greater support in society. After all, the defending side needs more effort and resources to fight.

Literature and art must be allowed to raise the level of spirituality, culture, and understanding of fascism, anti-fascism, and genocide of nations. Those who openly preach war, the destruction of Ukrainians, and the murder of Jews are a terrible phenomenon that should not exist in the human world, but not in the world of ‘drones.’ There needs to be more consolidation of human, rather than herd, phenomena, and the role of culture in this is invaluable.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people who are just starting their careers?

EA: First of all, you need to improve yourself professionally and spiritually. Understand universal human values. Find the right door to the world. If you are in doubt, first decide who is who at the present time. Undoubtedly, light and goodness will prevail. We carry it together. Together we can do more!