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Spain’s got talent
On the TV show “Spain’s Got Talent,” sand artist Lana 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.
THE MAIN IDEA FOR A LIVE TV SHOW
CREATING A RECOGNIZABLE PORTRAIT IN MERE SECONDS USING SAND, A MATERIAL THAT BEHAVES UNPREDICTABLY, SEEMED ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE.
I spent a long time trying to figure out how to amaze the judges and the audience on “Spain’s Got Talent.” Sand art is a captivating technique, but compared to dynamic performances that capture attention within seconds, I had little time for contemplation. A painting requires at least a minute to come to life, and in that time, others can completely captivate the audience. That’s when the idea struck me: what if I drew portraits of the judges themselves?
The thought was both brilliant and daunting. Drawing a recognizable portrait is challenging enough, but doing it in mere seconds using sand—a material that behaves unpredictably—seemed almost impossible. Each grain of sand falls differently, and the result is hard to control completely. Yet, despite the risk, this idea felt like it could truly impress the judges and the audience.
To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I was taking on a challenge, knowing that portraits were not my strong suit, and that frightened me. But I decided I had to succeed! I practiced those three minutes over and over for more than a month. There were moments of despair when it seemed like I wouldn’t manage. But I didn’t give up.
Then the day arrived. As I started drawing, my hands were trembling treacherously. But I focused, pouring all my professionalism and technique, honed over years, into every movement. When the portraits were finished, I heard the applause. The entire hall stood up! The audience applauded standing, the judges were smiling, and Edurne was especially moved and also applauded standing. I will never forget that moment. It wasn’t just a victory. I saw how my work touched people’s hearts, and that meant everyone left with a piece of love and light.
I am confident that this revelation will leave onlookers wondering about the strength of the human spirit in critical times.
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.
MADRID
Casting for Spain's Got Talent
MADRID
Artist of the National
Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
BARCELONA
Casting for Spain's Got Talent
MADRID
Artist of the National
Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
REVIEW
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.
Metamorphosis of the Soul
t the 2nd Philharmonic Concert, the “Schumann Open,” sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will create her own artwork during Robert Schumann’s 4th Symphony, enriching the musical experience with a stunning sand animation. Two ephemeral art forms meet, inspiring one another.
Little Mermaid
Enchanting story of the “Little Mermaid” brought to life through the fascinating sand animation of 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”, accompanied by the narration of Ruth Ohlmann. This performance combines music and visual storytelling and immerses the audience in the little mermaid’s journey full of love and curiosity in the human world.
