kristina antolic craftwork4all

Kristina Antolic

My approach to art practice is based on two parts – the fact that I am printmaker and Art historian. As printmaker I enjoy the process that incorporates experimenting with media and techniques, therefore as Art historian I like to use references, „observe“ arts and cultures through my own work. I prefer to incorporate mixing of techniques such as printmaking, sewing and painting into my artworks mostly completed in fiber art, mixed media and recently ceramics. Art is incorporated in everyday routines through my own work and the fact that I work as Visual Arts teacher in secondary school.

My starting point has always been printmaking. The introduction of printing on fabric influenced changes in conceptual approach to my art. Textiles and sewing as a medium made reminiscences to the cultural heritage used by women in traditional art. This relation with traditional art has been mostly evident through techniques and patterns. Fiber art affected my artworks to become larger, sculpture-like and more dominant in space. By combining painting, printing and sewing, objects such as free interpretations of tapestries, totems and catchers are created. When I started using fiber art, I had concept based on enlarged 3D linocut prints, but after a while, the new system of signs and symbols has been born.

 

Craft projects

kristina antolic craftwork4all artpiece 1

The Cult of the Forest Spring

The Cult of the Forest Spring is a work created by painting, printing and sewing, and can be connected to my own experience of being in nature. Nature is depicted in a multitude of difficult-to-recognize shapes that evoke chaos. The text that appears represents a hiker’s (but also a diving) credo: Take nothing, Leave nothing behind and Touch nothing. A fourth term has been added: The Cult of the Forest Spring, which I associate exclusively with my stays in nature and drinking water from a forest spring. For me a forest spring signifies a special place, almost shamanic, where it is necessary to drink water that symbolically heals.

kristina antolic craftwork4all artpiece 2

Totem

Totem with reminiscence on human body printed from recycled linocut matrices. On the top is the head of Minotaur, and on the lower part butt and tail, therefore because of relation front/back, figure may look twisted. Totem may also remind on collage because of combining fragments. Minotaur is often used as motif in totems because of its dangerous and protective look at the same time,

kristina antolic craftwork4all artpiece 3

Idol

This artwork is result of experimenting with printmaking on clay. After investigation of Eneolithic and Neolithic art I started to make 3D objects with references on formal solutions and human figures. This relief is inspired by Dogu figurines.

kristina antolic craftwork4all artpiece 4

What happened to melancholic

Tapestry that includes printmaking, sewing and painting with reference on Durer’s Melencholia 1. The artwork questions position of artist today. According to some historians Durer positioned art in the context of septem artes liberales, therefore my question is where is Art or Artist positioned in our world