We gave the world Susan Boyle. Ukrane gave us Kseniya Simonova. On the see-saw that is the fickle world of global talent contests, Su-Bo has a sublimely aerial view of Kseniya and her wonderful art.

She’s the 24 year-old winner of Ukraine’s Got Talent, and has become a YouTube phenomenon by telling stories through sand animation.

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Here, she recounts Germany conquering Ukraine in the second world war. She brings calm, then conflict. A couple on a bench become a woman’s face; a peaceful walkway becomes a conflagration; a weeping widow morphs into an obelisk for an unknown soldier. Simonova looks like some vengeful Old Testament deity as she destroys then recreates her scenes – with deft strokes, sprinkles and sweeps she keeps the narrative going. She moves the judges to tears as she subtitles the final scene “you are always near”.

She started drawing with sand after her business collapsed due to the early 21st century credit crunch and had been drawing for less than a year when she entered Ukraine’s Got Talent. Simonova won 1,000,000 Ukraninan Hryvnia (approx. £73,400) for her first place in the show.

The Guardian puts it eloquently:

“…it’s clear that Simonova has achieved her goal as an artist. If we take it that art’s purpose is to illuminate the world in a new way, provoke a reaction, somehow alter the consciousness of the viewer then her work is a huge success.”

This is one of the most beautiful videos I’ve seen on YouTube in a long time. It gave me goosebumps watching it…

You can find out more about Kseniya here on Wikipedia or visit her official website here.

[Big thanks to the future Mrs RaxRaxRax for pointing this one out to me]