This work represents a board that resembles a crossword puzzle with several words written in: live, love, be happy, burn, dream, fall in love, fly, etc. However, this is more of a chessboard that represents our life. The squares are the framework that society imposes on all of us and the words are accepted in relation to those who are considered “normal”. MG wants to say that LGBTQ+ people are also striving to be accepted and fit within those frames, but this matrix has to be widened to include them. That is why the rainbow flag and the lines at the top and the bottom, that include the name of the painting, visually expand the board. He is saying that their relationship is not only about sex, perversion, and lewdness, as many think they are. They, too, fall in love, dream, and want to live freely. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community who is not out yet, MG with this work wants to influence people in his country. He wants to educate people and lower the level of anti-gay sentiment around him. He personally summed it up in the best way possible: There is a fight for freedom going on in Ukraine right now, but even when this “real” war is over, the fight for the rights of the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community will continue. Unfortunately, he himself has to use a pseudonym and has to paint under the sheets by candlelight while living with his parents due to fear of being exposed.

MG was born in a village of Trypillia whose history spans over 6000 years, with a stable modern settlement being around 1000 years old. In his mid-teens MG made a decision to become an artist and after graduating high school he went on to study at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture with a major in art and restoration. MG is part of the LGBTQ+ community; however, he is not out yet. Only a few of his close friends know but neither the wider circle nor his parents are aware. Ukraine has made great strides towards tolerance and acceptance in the last few decades; however, being a rather religious and traditional society, any deviation from the accepted norm is generally not welcomed and can even be met with hostility outside of urbanized areas. MG is a young artist, but has already made a mark by helping to establish a history museum in his native village where his works are also represented. He has been selling his art locally. This work is the first to be sold outside of Ukraine.