The apple tree in her work is more than a motif, it is a symbol of fertility, continuity, and the inevitability of change. Like a woman, the tree exists in phases: blooming, bearing fruit, shedding its apples, and resting in winter.

The apples themselves become stand-ins for human life, fragile yet inevitable, nurtured yet subject to fate. In Harvesting, the contrast between apples still clinging to the tree and those that have fallen speaks to the unpredictable nature of existence, where a gust of wind or an unseen hand can alter one’s path in an instant.

Through a restrained yet powerful use of light, always emanating from a single source, Nina evokes the spiritual dimension of these works, subtly referencing the presence of the divine. Drawing from Greek mythology, Slavic folklore, and religious iconography, her paintings transcend the personal to become a shared human narrative, reminding us that we are all part of the same eternal rhythm of growth, transformation, and renewal.

Nina Sechko’s sculptures: Earth, Femininity, and Sacred Form

Nina’s sculptures stand as echoes of ancient fertility goddesses, grounding her exploration of womanhood in something primal and eternal. Inspired by pre-historic depictions of female deities, her figures emphasize rounded forms, seated postures, and a profound connection to the earth.

These works do not merely depict women; they embody the essence of femininity as a force of creation, resilience, and cyclical renewal.

The exaggerated hips and grounded postures speak to the deep-rooted relationship between women and the natural world, reflecting the same cycles seen in her paintings of the apple tree—birth, growth, decline, and rebirth.

Her use of mythology continues in sculptural form, where references to the Hesperides, the Greek nymphs guarding the sacred apple tree merge with the spiritual weight of Slavic and Buddhist traditions. The figures, solid and timeless, remind us of the unbroken lineage of feminine energy that has nurtured, protected, and sustained life throughout history.

In these works, Nina invites the viewer to experience femininity not just as an aesthetic subject, but as a sacred and universal creation.