WEAVES OF NORDIC SEA

In our times, times of technology and rush, people get lost in the great big world of possibilities. They broaden their knowledge of the world, explore many different points of view. They make conclusions based on someone else expirience insted of dicover something new and taking new path. We all become objective, passive observers of the universe. We lose the ability to discover, we fail to trust our own intuition.
Worried about myself, my creativity and connection with my wild instincts and nature I gave myself little present – my solo trip to Oslo.

Where is the passion of live? We conduct mundane lifestyle, following common paths, so life passes through our fingers.
Some time ago I lost the joy of life. Everything seemed to be meaningless. I decided to go somewhere and clear my head of all destructive thoughts. I bought the ticket to Oslo in Norway. The decision to go there was made the day before the date of departure. I had practically one evening to develop strategies of my trip and pack my backpack. So the day after was very busy, at dizzying pace I had to exchange currency to Norwegian Crown and catch the bus to the airport.
Many people think I’m crazy, others ask why I went alone to an unknown place. But for me it was the time of spiritual renewal, the time to discover myself. Incredible opportunity to learn about my weaknesses, but also the time to believe how much I can achieve. The whole trip I wanted to live without the internet and my smartphone. I have been depending on my intuition, strength and skills of reading maps. Importantly, I had very small amount of the funds as well. I had literally the right amount needed to survive without frills.
For the price of one night in the hostel, I could survive three days sleeping in the tent. I had then also enough cash to buy food and travel around the city. In Norway, a tourist can stay for one night anywhere he wants, of course, outside private properties. So initially I thought that finding a places for a tent, will be quite easy. I was so surprised when I saw a huge farmlands surrounded the airport. To find a piece of free land I wandered for 4 hours with 15 kilograms rucksack on my back. The first night I did not sleep at all, fearing that the wind will destroy my tent. The day after I took the way to Moss, with hope I will take the train to Oslo. But when I got there after 4 hours walking, I got the info what is the actual price for the train! Wow, that was almost all I've got. So, after the nice advice of one lady I took the non expensive bus to airport Rygge again... and then direct bus to Oslo.
I prommised myself to make a better research next time!

Then the real journey started. When we stand up to that challenge we may say: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And we gain the best in-a-lifetime memories. For example, ‘taking a shower’ in the sink of municipal toilets, drying the hair under the hands dryer... also flavor of military food and coffee powder with cold water, pain in shoulders and fatigue. But all of it was worth everything I saw, especially breathtaking views, the sunsets long after midnight and the indescribable joy of existence. Such is the superiority of being over possession. During the pure joy of discovery, I had no need of something else, more luxurious. I had everything, and I was everything I always wanted to be.

I did it. Ordinary girl, born in Polish small town - me. I beat my own weaknesses. I could count only on myself. Sometimes it was very hard. I say this not to present my courage, or to impress someone. I’m talking about the fact that disconnection is very important in the life of every human being. The ability to break away from everyday life to embark on a journey into the depths of ourselves.
When I think about the world around me, I feel that people are lack of passion. Of course we have many diverse interests, but somewhere along the way we lose the passion for life. Disconnection time for me was a very important experience. I discovered the beauty of everyday life, the poetry of life. Rather than turn on the laptop I opened my eyes on adventure.

TOUCH THE SENSES

I believe that everything that happened along our path has a meaning. That was when I met Aleksandra Gaca while my application for Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. She is a very inspiring person of great sensitivity to the world around us. She teach me how to look around through the eyes of artist. “The concept can be a gust of wind or fog, what happens next is your personal impact, a delicacy, sensuality.” This is the essence of her textile world. Aleksandra Gaca is a Polish artist, she lifes and creates in Delft, Netherlands.

How do you remember your education in Art High school?

Fabrics was always the subject of my interests. That was my inspiration of realization my own works. I experimented a lot to create new creations. Decision about Art High School was very spontaneous. However that was a great choice, wonderful time with great people around. Thanks for that, I found new crafting ways, new possibilities and gain new knowledge and inspirations. My favorite part was designing clothes and that was actually my first step to the future.

Do you mean the studies on Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and your later career in Netherlands?

Yes, but at the beginning I haven’t been thinking about study abroad. My plan was to stay in Poland and study in Lodz. However I haven’t been accepted. And like they say, nothing happens without a reason. I found then opportunity to go abroad, and I sent my application and... I get in! That was incredible. I remember how excited I was on my first day in Textile&Fasion Design department. After first year I wanted to choose fashion design specialization. However my teachers advised me to go deeper into textiles. I take their words very serious and it was right choice. I learned a lot, but the most important was the process of discovery myself, my creativity and passion.

How was your way to achieve independent design?

Huge impact on me was then my Internship part in Ulf Moritz’s studio - decoration textile designer. Then first time I get the opportunity to see whole process of designing a fabric. I was extremely excited about his precision and big effort he put into each designed piece. This experience let me get deeper into textile design and it finally became the subject of my diploma. That was the beginning of new path of creating and first step to where I am now. After studies I was working as a freelancer designer and collaborate with different companies. In the meantime I started to create first 3D textiles. In a time that became the only subject of my works. First realizations become a part of Textile Museum in Tilburg. Then I created first collection of upholstery fabrics Cosmos for Fabric Fusion. After few years I created 3D Slumber textile collection and acoustic fabrics Architextiles.

How does the designing process looks like, what steps have been made to create 3D and acoustic textiles?

The 3D textile is a combination of construction, material and weaving process. Collection exist only because of long hard working path of experimenting and tryouts. Every new collection is the base for next, better one. At the beginning of designing I focused very much on what happened on one square centimeter. Next step was thinking about function and how it can be used. Architextile project was very important step. Get me idea to go more and more in spacious of the fabric. Then it became more as a sculpture and in this same time searching the relation with interior. I wanted to make it as an independent design, decorative and functional. Fabric is specious from the outside and empty inside and that is the reason why is great in the acoustic.

Where do your inspirations come from?

From the world around me. It can be a form, building or structure, but also light and shadow compilation, the movement of wind.

Would you tell us more about the fabric you use and all textiles itself?

There is important to choose the fabric demands on where it is going to be use. To clothes I use mostly natural material as wool and mohair. Furniture fabric is mainly polyester or wool as well. However on design object there is important to use incombustible material, for example trevira CS.

How about the project for Hermès Shops in China and South Korea? Would you please share your memories of this with us?

That was my dream design but also great challenge. I got the proposition from architecture office Rena Dumas Architecture Interieure in Paris, to design textile on the Wuxi shop facade. That was my first that huge project. Was very exciting from the concept, through different ideas and finally to realization, construction and assembly. It was great time and I learned a lot. I may say that was my success, after all I get three more orders for my works.