Dmitry Ryzhak, musician and composer, talks about his experience participating in the Forest Memory Lab forest art residency, created by AO Pădurea Noastră in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and Culture Moves Europe.
About music, inspiration drawn from Moldova’s nature and culture, creative experiments, and an experience that helped him better understand himself and those around him.
My name is Dmitry Ryzhak, and I am 19 years old. I am a musician: I play the piano and clarinet, and I write my own compositions. I am currently studying clarinet at a music college, and after graduating, I plan to apply to a conservatory to study composition.
I really liked this place. It is far away from cities and noisy settlements, right in the middle of the forest, on higher ground. There is fresh air, a pleasant atmosphere, and lots of greenery all around. The time I spent at this residency was wonderful.
Here, I created five pieces. Initially, I had planned a cycle called “The Seasons,” but together with my partner, we decided to move away from this concept because it seemed too overused and difficult to perceive. In the end, we reworked the idea and focused on the themes of “Birth,” “Trial,” and “Peace.”
In addition, inspired by the Moldovan national hero Ștefan cel Mare, I wrote a poem in his honor and also composed a short piece in a Spanish style.
It was a great experience! After about a week, we had all connected with each other and became friends. Together with Dasha, I created the musical accompaniment and worked on the installation: we made a pathway and a bench. With Nina, another participant, I worked with clay, painted, went into the forest for inspiration, and worked on collaborative projects.
This project really brought us together. I learned how to work as part of a team, communicate better with people, and find common ground, especially since we turned out to have so many shared interests. The most important thing I learned from the others was to approach things more calmly and neutrally.
There was one particularly special moment. When we had prepared, rehearsed, and performed all our pieces at the final concert, I performed my poem “Ștefan cel Mare.” The audience received it with incredible enthusiasm! People came up to me, thanked me, and shared their emotions. It was very touching. I will remember that day with warmth for a long time.
I am taking away an invaluable experience from this art residency. I have learned to communicate better with people, become more sociable and open to creativity. I now have many new ideas. I was deeply inspired by Moldovan culture and nature, and I want to continue exploring them: learning Romanian, immersing myself in history, and writing music inspired by these themes — and perhaps even literary works.
When I return home, I plan to create something completely new and unique.
If I had to describe this experience in one word, I would choose “existentialism.” To me, it is about something deep and hidden, something far beneath the surface. This word perfectly captures the essence of the place: when you come here, your inner character traits and temperament begin to reveal themselves. Everything that was hidden inside comes to the surface and manifests itself with renewed intensity.
Works by Dmitry Ryzhak created during the art residency:
