Elena Rabkina on Art, Activism and the Urgency of Self-Care

My next guest is an inspiring curator, artist, and activist from Belarus — someone who skillfully combines her artistic, journalistic, and psychological background to create powerful projects in social illustration and public art.I’m talking about Elena Rabkina, whose work engages with themes of social justice, migration, ecology, and current political events.What fascinates me about Elena’s practice is how she not only addresses urgent social issues but also designs innovative educational games — tackling complex topics such as cultural identity and navigating fake news.In our conversation, we dive into pressing questions around burnout in the art world and education, and the importance of self-care for artists and educators alike. Elena also shares her personal educational journey in Belarus and gives us a vivid insight into her wide-ranging projects and initiatives in Berlin, painting a portrait of an artist-activist deeply engaged with the world around her.This episode was made possible thanks to the KPO for Culture scholarship, funded by the National Recovery Plan.