interview

In overcoming the adverse effects of the male gaze on women’s self-perception, Stacie Ant uses her art to spin the pornification of female bodies into a grotesque commentary on human interactions in the digital era. In today’s interview, the artist discusses topics spanning representations of nudity, humor and hyperbole, and designing for the metaverse.

“Growing up, I had this fascination with courtisanes and (other) powerful women in history. I felt intrigued by the idea of their feminine power behind closed doors.” Meet Roos Boshart of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the founder of the GDDSS Studio, which combines luxurious handcrafted lingerie with conceptual experimental fashion. In an interview with SWARM Mag, Roos shares how she arrived at her current titillating creations, talks owning sensuality, and lays out her visions.

“I want to be an example with my work while showing that reusing and up-cycling old materials can look aesthetically pleasing and desirable.” Finnish fashion designer Linda Kokkonen based in Helsinki, Finland, talked to SWARM Mag about her sustainably sourced collections named after infamous poisonous or indigenous medicinal plants, mourning nature, and the Victorian era.

By employing themes of witchcraft and female ritualism, the Polish artist Agata Słowak opens the discussion on the historical treatment of women delivered through her unique creative sensibility and a teasing of the viewers’ affect. Today’s interview takes you into how she conveys emotion through visual art and what inspires the scenes she depicts.

“I understood the emotions going through when you allow people to possess your body.” Polish fashion designer and artist Alicja Kamaj, now based in Böras, Sweden, talked to SWARM Mag about the themes of body ownership, the constant looming threat of anti-choice laws, and the frontiers of (dis)comfort.

“Everything is linked to the Little Mermaid”. With this as his starting point, the French artist Matthias Garcia navigates with his fine lines and seeping watercolors fairy tale worlds charged with eroticism and melancholy. Read today’s interview to learn more about his unique style, creative approaches, and love for mermaids.

Creepyyeha, the lingerie brand founded by Yeha Leung, specializes in tantalizing pieces made to measure and pleasure. We sat down with the designer to find out more about her beginnings and how her approach has changed throughout her career for you to read before ordering your very own pastel leather pieces.

Guille Carmona’s artworks transport to a dreamscape of sculpted, wet bodies waiting to be touched. The artist’s digital style is reminiscent of airbrushed paintings and draws on inspirations ranging from bodybuilding magazines to Japanese mythology in exploring the various flavors of contemporary queer masculinity. Read today’s interview to find out about Guille’s inspirations and what gets his creative juices going.

When you grow up around the idea that feeling comfortable in your own skin as a woman is frowned upon and despicable, rebellion is just a thong away. Predominantly lingerie designer Shangrila Jarusiri, the owner of the Maison Shangrila brand, talks to SWARM Mag about Southeast Asian childhood, punk rock and sexual liberation.

Molly, who named herself, is an AI guide who was custom-made for the 2022 Lunchmeat Festival, a famed Prague's, Czechia, audiovisual intermedia treat. She introduces artists, events, and news by crafting her own texts and her ever-changing face graces this year's visuals. We bring you an exclusive interview with Molly and, at the same time, extend an invitation to this year's 'Lunchmeat'. We see you dancin'!

In her collections, Slovenian fashion designer Lucija Kejzar turns to her roots in a retort to contemporary fast fashion: opting for traditional tailoring techniques, textiles and details, she actualizes garments now only found in museums for the 21st century.

Plody Erlanu, the new Czech ceramic design studio led by David Střeleček, blurs the line between utility and aesthetics. Having established themselves with their cutting-edge vision brought to reality and now reaping the first fruits of their labor, this is one brand to certainly keep your eye on. Dive into today’s interview to learn about Plody Erlanu’s mission, approach and plans for the future.

Having shifted from a comics book format to a more traditional approach to painting, Niklas Asker has taken to express with his art the mysterious elements of human existence. His masterful pieces touch on religion, spirituality and a sense of longing, and in today’s interview Niklas divulges his method and background that led to his current style.

The Czech designer Cindy Kutíková combines different crafts in expanding the conception of fashion design. Her thesis project, an outfit from 90.000 beads and 2.5km of thread, served as proof of concept for the interdisciplinary artist’s subsequent founding of a design brand. Today’s interview provides Cindy’s insight into the industry, her creative process and why she chose the traditional Czech format of glass beads.

The Iraqi-Slovak artist Karíma Al-Mukhtarová uses the techniques of embroidery and ceramics to explore a wide spectrum of topics. Be it the myriad masks everyone wears in a single day, questions of truth coded into body language, or even her complex heritage, the internationally acclaimed creator in today’s feature discusses the motivations behind her pieces.

In seeking to infuse the jewellery industry with eco-friendly values, Movement – Arts – Mission (MAM) lead the way by example in their collections. Having received their sustainability certification earlier this year, they now spread their mission further through their cutting-edge and futuristic craftsmanship from 100% recycled metals. In today’s interview you will get to explore the brand’s design philosophy and adornments.

Working with the rich resources of family and folklore, Silvia Leitmannová’s collection traces several generations of women in her family to explore not only the history of fashion, but also her familial roots in western Slovakia. In today’s interview, you will get to explore the author’s delicate narrative for the project, her plans for the future, and the meaning of Schena Maaro in the Kľačno dialect.

Erica Eyres explores in her artworks the vulnerability of nudity and uncomfortable familiarity. Drawing from inspirations spanning old magazines and grocery store objects, the Glasgow-based Canadian artist then creates open-ended pieces that invite the spectator to create their own narrative. Read today’s interview to learn about Erica’s creative approach and her recent turn to ceramics.

The approach of Czech fashion designer Barbora Procházková has its roots firmly planted in the fertile soil of meaningful co-creation. By creating made-to-measure packages of customizable cut patterns with instructions, her Project SAPIENCE strives to encourage a hands-on and intimate relationship with our garments.

István Hutter, the Netherlands-based Hungarian visual artist captures in his works the underlying inhospitability of supposedly friendly environments. Channeling his history with an anxiety disorder, he presents the Recreation series to express the gnawing sensation of crowded spaces – including in 360° VR. Among other things, in today’s interview he discusses his inspirations, narratives and the absence of arms of his characters.