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Requiem for Larisa. Goodbye, world!
A short film that uses the unique technique of sandbox animation by Svetlana Telbukh. The music of Valentin Sylvestrov will be performed by the famous Ukrainian violinist Evgenia Sirenko, and the film will be played by the company Sand Elf.
The most tragic aspect of the remaining rocks in Ukraine was war. The slogan “Farewell, world!” represents the loss of the Ukrainian people in the event of this war. This project is a synthesis of sandy mysticism, music and deep feelings.
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THE MAIN IDEA
Dark music touched my soul and through sand animation I conveyed to the spectators the pain and hope of the entire Ukrainian people.
The child, which symbolizes the birth of Ukraine, sleeps peacefully in a nest in the volume of a crane – a symbol of family values.
The girl is growing into adulthood and a strong woman, especially in Ukraine for 31 years. The tree, which is deeply rooted in the ground, is a symbol of the strength of the native land – the genetic code of Ukrainians.
The woman-mother has grown up, hugging the wings of her children, the place of Ukraine, to carry us to the present. The most famous monuments of Ukraine come to life in the sand, such as Sophia of Kiev, Nezalezhnosti Square, the Lviv Opera House and the signature fountain of Kharkov. This image – the mother bird, which symbolizes the present-day Ukraine – is a reflection of the strength and pain of the Ukrainian people. It has food and protection in large volumes.
The culmination of the work is the whole battle between the crow and the crane – the interplay of good and evil.
The light image of the crane, which reappears with the saddle, symbolizes rebirth and a peaceful future.
I depicted the important hours of the difficult, cruel 2022 fate with the appearance of an evil black crow, who raided our lands with the aim of taking them away. If you can’t find it, burn it so that no one gets it…
"Farewell, world!" — this is a synthesis of sand mystique, music and feeling. I respect my requests through the power of creativity, to reveal the history of Ukraine, which means the greatness and resilience during important hours.
The visual rhythm of a wheat field, covered with half-holes, indicative of a peaceful hour, swept away by the storm of war.
I am confident that this revelation will leave onlookers wondering about the strength of the human spirit in critical times.
MUSICAL SUPPORT
From 1997 to 1999, the famous Ukrainian composer Valentin Vasilyovich Sylvestrov wrote in mourning in memory of his fallen squad his remaining work “Requiem for Larisa. Farewell, light!”
Requiem for the nominations for the category “The Best Classical Current TV” for the Grammy Award in 2005.
FUTURE SHOW
SHOW
LOCATION
DATE
The Spectre’s Bride
Hof
January 30, 2026 19:30
THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE is a gripping ghost story that unfolds between longing, hope, despair, and terror—until the redeeming dawn. An orphaned girl waits for years for the return of her missing beloved, who finally appears to her as a bridegroom from hell, forcing her on a nocturnal ride to the cemetery. Passing decayed marshes, surrounded by will-o’-the-wisps and the howling of wild beasts, they race through the darkness until the first crow of the rooster and the first rays of the sun put an end to the haunting and set the bride free.
Antonín Dvořák’s operatic cantata THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE (1884) is based on the dark legend Svatební košile (literally: “The Wedding Shirts”) by Czech poet Karel Jaromír Erben. For the first time, this powerful work—rarely heard on stage—can now be experienced at Theater Hof in a concert performance featuring soloists, the opera chorus, and the Hof Symphony Orchestra. As a special highlight, internationally acclaimed sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will bring the imaginative and emotional world of the legend to life through live sand animation.
Le Landeron — 700 years
Le Landeron, Switzerland
October 31, 2025 18:00
Le Landeron — 700 years of history brought to life through sand, light and voice.
On October 31 and November 1, a poetic 45-minute sand animation concert will be presented in honor of the anniversary of Le Landeron.
The story of the town unfolds through a fusion of live sand animation, narration, and atmospheric light design, creating a moving visual journey.
Every gesture becomes the breath of time, every line a memory, every spark of light an expression of gratitude.
Two performances each evening: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Duration: approx. 45 minutes
Location: Le Landeron, Switzerland
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Light Design: Illumination SA
The Whisper of Flowers
Vullierens, Switserland
August 28, 2025 20:00
The Whisper of Flowers is a poetic 45-minute concert blending live piano music, sand animation, and narration into an immersive visual and musical experience.
Inspired by the 70-year history of the iris gardens, the performance unfolds like a living story: each flower reveals its hidden secrets as images appear and dissolve in real time, shaped from grains of sand while the piano accompanies their journey.
Three artists unite to bring this universe to life — a pianist, a narrator, and sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf).
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Piano: CarolynWoods-Jardine
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Swiss Legends
Geneva, Switzerland
June 27, 2025 21:00
Swiss Legends is a captivating 45-minute sand animation performance inspired by Swiss mythology and legendary figures, including the haunting tale of La Fée Noire du Jura. Created by sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf), the show blends live music and narration into an immersive visual journey.
Each scene appears and dissolves in real time, transforming ancient Swiss stories into living images shaped from grains of sand.
Produced by Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
General Concept: Victoria Giorgini
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Guillaume Pidancet
Light Design: Illumination SA
A poetic tribute to Switzerland’s cultural heritage — magical, atmospheric, and unforgettable.
Sand and Sound
Frauenfeld, Switserland
May 25, 2025 20:00
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh. Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Lana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience. The event will be hosted by Andy Zellweger, the well-known morning show presenter from RADIO TOP.
Organization is provided by Must HAVE Frauenfeld, a brand dedicated to stylish second-hand fashion and sustainable labels that prove fashion can be both trendy and environmentally friendly.
Music Remo Forrer
Moderator Andy Zellweger
Sand animation Lana Telbukh
School Concert The Little Mermaid
Gera, Germany
February 11, 2025 09:00
Experience the enchanting tale of “The Little Mermaid” brought to life through mesmerizing sand animation by Svetlana Telbukh, in collaboration with the Theater Altenburg Gera. Under the direction of conductor Changmin Park, the orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” with narration by Ruth Ohlmann. This performance blends music and visual storytelling, immersing the audience in the Little Mermaid’s journey of love and curiosity in the human world.
CREATIVE TEAM
An elegant composition acquires new meanings when it is performed by the outstanding Ukrainian violinist, candidate of art history and laureate of international competitions – Yevgenia Sirenko. As an artist of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, a group of first violins, Evgenia brings sophistication and a high level of performance skill to the performance. Her violin becomes a transmitter of deep feelings and emotions, which are intertwined with images drawn in sand. The music video becomes a kind of requiem for all the dead and victims of Russian aggression during the full-scale invasion.
Svetlana Telbukh, born in 1984, Kharkiv, Ukraine. She graduated from Kharkiv State University of Construction and Architecture. Participated in Ukraine’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, Spain’s Got Talent. She patented a unique methodology of teaching sand art und opened Sand Animation Academy in Ukraine where studies more than 2000 children. Svetlana won awards at film festivals in Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, London, Prague, and the world’s oldest independent film festival, Worldfest Houston International Film Festival.
SVETLANA TELBUKH
International sand animation artist
Evgeniya Sirenko, born in 1980, Kyiv, Ukraine. She graduated from the M.V. Lysenko School, studying under Tetiana Snizhna. She completed her studies at the National Music Academy of Ukraine in the violin class under Professor Anatoliy Bazhenov. She also completed her assistant internship in the chamber ensemble class under Professor Lyudmyla Tsvyrko. A diploma winner and laureate of international competitions, she holds a PhD in Art Studies, is an artist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (first violin section), and teaches violin at the Kyiv State Music Lyceum named after M.V. Lysenko.
EVGENIA SIRENKO
Ukrainian violin, an artist in the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Next project
Day of German Unity
On October 3, 2019, during the live broadcast of the “Day of German Unity” celebration from Kiel on ZDF, the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel performed accompanied by Svetlana Telbukh, who presented a touching sand animation story about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Spain’s got talent
On the TV show “Spain’s Got Talent,” sand artist Svetlana Telbukh delivered something truly unique to the audience. She took on the challenging task of creating portraits of the judges using sand, a material that demands exceptional skill and precision. Every movement was carefully thought out.
The audience was stunned when they recognized the judges, and the hall erupted in a standing ovation.
Live concert with Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh.
Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Svetlana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience.
