FULL OF DESIRE

Polish artist Marta Karkosa uses the medium of photography to explore contemporary women’s attitudes to their own bodies, promoting the beauty and uniqueness of every corporeal form. In today’s exclusive interview, Marta goes in-depth into her book Women Body Acceptance, which intimately explores these themes across several generations of women living in a strongly conservative nation-state.

“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.

Dangling over the chasm of jealousy, basking in the burning flames of scorn, sneering down at love from an intoxicating cloud, there lives Desire. Our third theme of 2022, FULL OF DESIRE, takes flight now – and no one is safe for the next three months.