A road from one world to the next
My artistic practice is an emotional journey between places, between worlds. It explores my thirst for travel and an intoxicating need to find connection. Sense of place and the inherent desire for home drives not only my work but my existence. This may seem rather fanatic but I have made many sacrifices albeit bad decisions to put my practice first. I don’t have any regrets with these decisions because all of those moments have led to this one and the success of my business. But I think it is important to note that the term ‘tortured artist’ is indeed true and that you can’t make emotional art without being somewhat emotional.
Emotion is what makes the best art, the most profound and thought provoking in my opinion. Artists such as Marc Chagall, Vincent Van Gogh or even the tortured poet Fernando Pessoa were intoxicated with emotion, all in different ways, but it gave them that burning desire to make art and express it to the world. Pessoa always spoke about dreaming, dreaming of what he could achieve as well as an agonising longing to escape reality,
I’ve dreamed a lot. I’m tired now from dreaming but not tired of dreaming. No one tires of dreaming, because to dream is to forget, and forgetting does not weigh on us, it is a dreamless sleep throughout which we remain awake. In dreams I have achieved everything.
Fernando Pessoa
Dreaming is not just a way of escapism but it is rather the potential for possibility. There is nothing more romantic a thought than to dream – unless, maybe love. Chagall was obsessed with love being an integral part of every aspect in life. I sometimes wonder if my relationship to my art will be my one true love, that love that is a little toxic but will always continue to light that burning fire inside of me. I don’t mean this in a negative way – I am happily engaged and in a relationship! But I mean rather that I strive for connection with myself and a greater understanding of the past and my Polish heritage. Love in allot of ways is such a beautiful mystery and an intangible concept.
In our life there is a single colour, as on an artist's palette, which provides the meaning of life and art.
It is the colour of love.
Marc Chagall
Perhaps we are all searching for that love, that mysterious feeling of being loved, belonging. In my most recent etching commission, I was given the greatest mission of all; to etch a love story between two worlds. This love was discovered from an early age and blossomed, growing over time. The connection between New Zealand and Tasmania is a huge part of their story, moving from one country to the other. I love how nature and plants become this symbol for growing, aging and entwining. Although this isn’t my story, I am so honoured to be able to share this whimsical, emotive and timeless narrative.
'Where Life Takes Us'
Multi-layered etching on copper
Printed on Hahnamuhle paper 300gsm
Hand painted with gouache, acrylic,
gold leaf, water-colours and gloss varnish
90 x 60 cm unframed
2020
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and seeing my latest commission inspired by New Zealand and Australian plants. It certainly has been a wonderful and challenging experience. In the photos you can see the progression from preliminary sketches, to the etching on copper process the the finished piece.
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Kate x