Ukraine's Got Talent! Kseniya Simonova brings nation to tears

Sand artist Kseniya Simonova rendered a sand tableaux of her nation's painful history during World War II and beyond – set to music. It's a YouTube hit, introducing viewers to the world of 'sand animation.'

Talk about "must see TV!"

Have you seen the YouTube sensation out of Ukraine? If not, you must.

Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Watch shy young artist Kseniya Simonova introduce you to the magical world of sand animation during her winning routine on Ukraine's Got Talent (video below).

Sand what?

Sand animation is a live performance art in which an artist creates a motion picture of sorts by deftly shifting sand around on a lightboard or overhead projector. (Who knew?) In this case, Ms. Simonova rendered a tableaux of her nation's painful history during World War II and beyond - set to music.

The result is a stirring masterpiece that touched something deep for Ukrainians, who wept uncontrollably in the audience as the show went on. For most of the rest of us, it's just a brilliant display of a hitherto unknown art form.

And her inherent class, it must be said, shames anything shown on America's Got Talent, where chainsaw jugglers and singing cowboys were vying for a spot as a headliner in Las Vegas.

As for Simonova, she's reportedly used her nearly $130,000 prize to buy a modest house and set up a children's charity.

"I only entered because there was a child I know who needed an operation and I wanted to help," she said, reported the Guardian. "I did not mean to make the whole nation cry."