In Process, ‘Macecha’ installation as a case study

Abstract

In this written part of my Bachelor’s Thesis, I present a report of my artistic part of the Thesis; the working process, experiments and continuous development of my latest art piece, ”Macecha”, an installation that I developed for a year starting on my student exchange in Holland in the spring 2018. In “Macecha” (stepmother in Czech) I reflect on stepparenting and honest feelings in discussions of the life in a new family. When telling about the working process I share the details of expanding a traditional oil painting into an installation made of recycled materials with a video projection and a sculpture of a spider.

In order to tell about the starting points of the work I also elaborate my roots and my inspirations, which are Slavic tales, ballads, horror and stop-motion animation. I introduce the traditional Czech collection of ballads by Karel Jaromír Er-ben ”Kytice” (Wild Flowers) and the film with the same title by director F.A. Brabec and produced by Jakobisko film. I also discuss the artworks of the artists: Louise Bourgeois, Benjamin Von Wong, Pekka & Teija Isorättyä and Kaisa Salmi as well as the animations by Katariina Lillqvist and Jan Švankmajer who use similar methods and materials as I do.