Between The Twigs, a gallery owned by Silvia Bianchi, proudly presents the exhibition TRAUMA | ART | DREAM featuring the work of Ukrainian artist and craftsman Anton Sokolov. This exhibition coincides with the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, marking a poignant moment for Sokolov as he brings his unique jewelry to Milan, crafted from materials collected during the ongoing conflict.
In Sokolov’s skilled hands, bullet casings, missile fragments, brass, glass, and silver are transformed into exquisite rings, pendants, brooches, and bracelets. Each piece is numbered to reflect the day of the war when the materials were salvaged from the rubble. His jewelry brand, TRAUMART, is an acronym derived from the German words for trauma, art, and dream, symbolizing the stories of pain and resentment caused by war, while also embodying hope for possible change.
Born in 1983 in Kharkiv, Ukraine (then part of the USSR), Anton Sokolov inherited his passion for jewelry from his father, a goldsmith. After completing his studies, he followed his mother’s path by graduating in dentistry and opening a dental clinic. However, his dream of becoming a goldsmith never faded. In 2015, following the death of his mother, he melted down his favorite silver chain to create a pendant, marking his first experience working with metal. Since then, he has dedicated his free time to studying jewelry-making techniques and applying his newfound knowledge in practice.
On February 24, 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. From the first days of the war, Anton and his fiancée, Nastya, organized a volunteer center, collecting donations and providing free assistance and medical supplies to those in their city. In April 2022, they married, and their wedding photos taken against the backdrop of war-torn Kharkiv captured global attention.
Shortly after their wedding, Anton was severely injured in a missile strike in central Kharkiv, necessitating a second surgery that was offered by a clinic in Munich. Although reluctant to leave Ukraine, he was forced to depart, ensuring he took his goldsmith tools and the collected bullet casings to create his jewelry.
In Munich, he attended the Munich Jewelry Week, a pivotal event that changed his life. He decided not to validate his dentistry degree and instead devoted himself entirely to studying the art of goldsmithing. In October 2023, during the Milan Jewelry Week, he met Silvia Bianchi, who invited him to participate in the 2024 edition of the event, where he received the Best Jewelry Art and Craft award from the Italian National Confederation of Artisans.
Thanks to these successes, Silvia has invited Anton back to Italy to dedicate an exhibition to his brand, Traumart.
Today, Anton resides in Berlin, where he has established a small workshop. From February 24, 2025, he will be in Milan to showcase his creations, each telling a story of his fears, separations, and triumphs, culminating in his powerful declaration: “I am still standing, and nothing else matters!”
Photo credits: Property of the gallery.