The Colours of Kyiv by Sophia Konoplytska

Spending five months away from home

made me miss my city endlessly. Every day I would think of it and all the memories it gave me. I believe colours are one of the many media for memories, with each one reminding me of something special about my beloved Kyiv.

Light blue takes me back to the lonely and quiet days of the pandemic. When the hot air filling my nostrils under the mask became unbearable, I would escape to the countryside. The sky stretched endlessly, and I finally breathed freely, far from the chaos.

Orange brings me to the theatre, with its fancy decor and gorgeous ladies in cocktail dresses. The sound of champagne bubbles and chatter at the buffet immediately plays in my ears.  

Red is the colour of the art gallery walls, where I spent countless therapeutic hours with myself, enjoying my own company.

Teal evokes the image of Kyiv's churches, their golden domes shining brilliantly in the sun, and the bells playing their inviting melody. The scent of linden trees fills the air — it's the smell of the summer. 

Golden is the summer in the city centre. It's the time I start wearing short-sleeved tops, showing off all my bracelets and bangles. Overpriced coffees with friends and the refreshing relief found in the city fountains. Even the name of my favourite place to be in Kyiv is golden — The Golden Gates. 

Beige is the colour of the path in Taras Shevchenko Park. As a child, I went there every Saturday with my grandma. I remember riding the horses and feeding them sugar cubes, stealing a few for myself, too.

Each colour brings back a piece of Kyiv, painting a vivid picture of my hometown in my mind and heart.