MARINA VERNALIS (SHKROBOVA): “ART SETS THE PATTERNS TO WHICH WE STRIVE”
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?
Marina Vernalis: Marina Shkrobova-Vernalis combines pedagogy and art, diplomacy and a deep love for poetic Word. My credo lives in these lines:
Faith, Hope, Love and Sofia-
And my new name was born!
It reveals the meaning of the boundless
Wisdom, faith, love and hope!
I will add to everyone heart without measure
A generous share of hope and faith!
In every verse, come and take –
Scattering of wisdom, tenderness of love!
You see, and I`ve got them too,
Connecting as a name-VERNALIS!
NAME for thought-living clothes.
It has trust, spirit and hope!
I knock on your souls again and again.
I believe and hope. I Love and I strive
To wisdom! And, hope, Sofia will help
With honor to carry this good name!
OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative field or in life?
MV: With poetry, I was just born! At the age of two, I knew Chukovsky and Mikhalkov by heart, and at the age of four I arranged my first home concerts with costumes, hats and backstage! And boldly declared that I would be an actress! But in order to go on big stages now in different cities of the world, I needed to become a teacher, diplomat, poet and artist in order to find my Way, Voice and learn how to love people and understand them! And fortunately, I have a Teacher who demonstrates me the unity of word and deed and he is an example of philanthropy and service to the Light – this is the world famous academician, now living sage Shalva Aleksandrovich Amonashvili. He teaches me to find pure thoughts in life and in poetry, to live two lives at once: on earth and in heaven, and through all my deeds and creativity to “facet” the diamond of the soul, which God put in my cradle!
OCA: What is your main achievement(s) or positive impact on the world in 2024–2025?
MV: Through the poetic word, through my concerts, I carry meanings that serve as a ladder of spiritual ascent for my viewers, help the transformation of the soul and the disclosure of the highest plan in everyone! This season presented performances in verse at the International Readings on Humane Pedagogy and at the Higher School of Amonashvili’s Students in Georgia, in the estate of the Amonashvili family, where participants from 15 or more countries of the world come. My concerts took place in Italy (Genoa and Camagna Monferrato) in March 2025 as part of the Poetry Festival “On Seven Hills!”
New cities of Russia invited me with concerts: Yekaterinburg and Ershov Islands, Pyatigorsk and Tyumen, Anapa and Kirov, Novosibirsk and Togliatti, Nickel, Sochi and Gelendzhik. For the first time I visited Bratsk, where I was greeted simply enchanting and on October 28, 2025, my new performance will take place on the stage of the Bratsk Drama Theater!
In 2025, my new poetic notebook of PURE THOUGHTS was released and readers are happy with it!
OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
MV: My Poetry is my SOUL! This is a conversation between my soul and the Creator, and here it is important not to compose, but to hear the meanings and words.
I write how I breathe! EASILY!
And the verse sounds like exhale and inhale, as if everything is so simple for understanding and implementation! In poetry, I reflect, have a conversation with another soul, with the reader. And this is the handwriting and skill: from prose it is elegant and easy to switch to poetry and in verse to talk with the world about the most important things!
My Poetry is the melody of my soul, my high (divine!) Meanings, which I always long to reach! This is a search for heavenly answers to my earthly questions: What is God’s purpose for me? Why am I here on Earth? How to live this one life? And all the answers must be harmoniously put into a harmonious musical syllable of poetic philosophy! My poems are melodic, I sing them and many composers write songs on my poems.
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?
MV: Of course, these are victories in international competitions: in Uzbekistan, in the «Open Eurasia – 2021» competition, as an illustrator; in Kazakhstan, in the competition “Voices of Friends – 2022” there are two victories at once in two nominations: poetry and painting. And finally, an amazing trip to Australia for the final of the “Open Eurasia – 2022” competition and a victory in the “art-book” nomination with my book “Poetry in Painting,” where my paintings and poems are combined. The book was published in London by Hertfordshire Press and after the victory in Melbourne was translated into English! These successes inspire me and my viewers throughout Russia and the world.
And I really value those poetic online meetings with poets-members of the Eurasion Creative Guild and members of the Expert Council on Poetry! These are precious minutes when I can share my poetry with talented friends and get a heartfelt response, especially when I hear the magnificent modern poets of Russia and Georgia, Belarus and Israel, Great Britain and Germany reading my poems! This is an incredible opportunity to feel the world through poetry!
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?
MV: The living creative energy of a person cannot be replaced by anything! The ability of a person to creatively rethink this world in words, images, colors, movements is the exceptional ability of the human soul!
The role of art is the role of a magnifying glass, allowing you to see subtle (invisible) processes, to reach deep meanings.
Art sets the patterns to which we strive. Art gives the courage to look at oneself and the world, remains a discoverer, in a good sense a “provocateur” calling for a new one! The connection of the irreducible only to a brave and seeking person who carries Harmony in himself! Being a bearer of culture is a special responsibility in the modern world: not to betray the reference sense of Beauty and be able to reveal your uniqueness, having your own thoughts worthy of the world hearing them!
OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people who are just starting their careers?
MV: Looking back, I thank myself for the fact that 40 years ago, when I came to school as a history teacher, I started arranging my poetry salons for my students and colleagues, and then I ventured into paintings! If I had not started this Path then, then there would not be now the current me, the Marina Vernalis Poetry Salon, my painting, my Voice, which has grown and grown stronger over these decades.
Therefore, I wish every creative person to act immediately and tirelessly! Even when you are not supported, even nobody will not believe in you… Believe in YOURSELF! Believe in the High Mission of the Cause that you have conceived and carry it (the Cause) with dignity!
FORTUNE LOVES THE BRAVE! Dare!
In each new day, in each new attempt, find the strength to express yourself to the world through your creativity, to stay feeling and real! The world will definitely respond!