EDGAR ANPILOGOV: REMEMBER: TRUE INSPIRATION LIES WITHIN YOU
OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative, life credo and motivation for your creativity?
Edgar Anpilogov: When you combine academic education with active, creative involvement in historical and cultural projects, meaningful civic engagement, and responsible work in a diplomatic mission, your path forward is shaped not only by the fact of your birth but also by the demand for your activity. This approach inspires many who recognise you as a leader.
Hence, my credo: by developing myself, I aim to influence the wider situation – moving forward despite circumstances and helping others who share the same goal to achieve equally dynamic progress. This, in turn, unites individual potential into a shared force.
OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative field or in life?
EA: My father, Sergey Igorevich Anpilogov, embodies my true teachers. From him, I draw an unwavering example of nobility and dignity. He serves as both a mentor and a living model of knowledge and skill – a guiding light of kindness and strength.
Alongside him, I admire legendary figures such as Winston Churchill, Bernard Montgomery, and their distinguished successor Valerii Zaluzhnyi. These individuals collectively exemplify the military and political genius of statecraft.
The gift of leading others and the possession of power are not the same. Heroes essential to their nation exemplify the highest standards of civilisation. In the context of the ongoing, bloody war my people are fighting, I interpret this through the lens of a very real struggle – one that determines the future of humanity itself.
OCA: What is your main achievement(s) or positive impact on the world in 2024–2025?
EA: Most recently, I made a significant and productive contribution through my research into the Ukrainian diaspora’s life and interactions within the UK. This work explores how its traditional values blend with the fast-paced changes of modern society, with the hope of providing long-term benefits.
I devised a practical strategy to build advanced civic communities that are adaptable, balanced, and effective – capable of addressing current needs and future challenges.
My role on the Executive Committee of the Praesidium of Public Associations of Ukraine further supports this effort, where I oversee areas including youth affairs, focused on shaping our future.
OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
EA: Among the many nuanced meanings that capture the essence of ‘diplomacy,” one can aptly consider its synonym – uniqueness.
Through collaborative partnerships and collegial coordination, I have firsthand experience with the subtle art of communication, balancing interests, and aligning goals across professional, social, and personal interactions.
Diplomacy entails not only the skill to listen but also the more complex ability to hear genuinely. It involves being understood and accepted – being able to articulate key details clearly and adaptively, deliver a cohesive analysis of causes and effects convincingly, highlight advantages, neutralize challenges, and differentiate existing realities from desired outcomes amid the semantic complexities of negotiation.
The ultimate goal is to reach an agreement and establish its conditions, often unconventional. This represents the core of what makes diplomacy fundamentally unique: the capacity to identify and cultivate unifying solutions, ensure their viability, and implement their strategic usefulness.
This embodies the legacy of a Ukrainian diplomat rooted in the classical tradition – one who, guided by contemporary demands, forges ahead of the present.
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: Well-known international initiatives of this unique organisation open up an endless space for ideas and development.
The creative collaboration of representatives from different cultures produces a remarkable, limitless concentration of experience – amplified and elevated by the creative aspirations of each individual.
Yes, the Eurasian Creative Guild is a global phenomenon. Inevitably, I draw parallels with my diplomatic practice, where borders exist only on the map, but not in the realm of ideas and their growth.
Everyone perceives according to their own capacity.
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: But is it not radical that today’s generation embodies not only the future, but also the present – and, firmly and promisingly, the past?
Flexibility, courage, speed, pragmatism, and innovation – are these not fundamental qualities? And what of deep traditions, or forward-looking relevance? Are these not meaningful and adaptive concepts? And productive usefulness – is it not the very foundation of progress, the defining characteristic of young leaders today?
Who would deny this? The very wording of the question contains the essence of the answer.
In the twenty-first century, our generation will adapt the world to human values.
OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people who are just starting their careers?
EA: It’s widely acknowledged that fearing mistakes can hinder progress – and that this fear might itself be a mistake. Embrace this insight as a guiding light and a source of inspiration for yourself and your teammates.
Forge ahead confidently by:
- Taking that brave first step.
- Unleashing your imagination without limits.
- Bringing your visions to life.
- Continuously refining and perfecting your work.
- Sharing your successes generously to inspire others.
- Viewing challenges as valuable opportunities for growth.
Remember: True inspiration lies within you. Trust in your potential and let it light your path.