THE ROOTS OF TASTE

Aleksandra Blinova’s dedication to the craft of hand-making shows in every piece she creates, be it couture or jewelry. Her masterful insight shows not only in the success of her brand, but also in the way she crafts her words and answers. So dive into today’s interview with the fashion designer to find out about Aleksandra’s influences, symbolisms, and profound views of the future.

Based in Skopje, North Macedonia, the Ludus brand is recognisable by monochrome swaths of draped fabric with occasional subtle gradients and straightforward, crisp silhouettes inspired by timeless tailoring. SWARM MAG sat down with the brand's founder Dragan Hristov to chat agender fashion, unapologetical approach to design, nurturing inspiration, and Slavic textile crafts.

The garden as a symbol of life and death, a cycle that is taking on increasingly gloomy contours in the context of the environmental crisis. Slovak artist Kristína Bukovčáková paints the reality she experiences every day in her real and imaginary garden. It is hard not to sympathise with the protagonists of her toxic paintings, which will appear at the Livebid Originals contemporary art auction in November. How will it all turn out in Christina's garden in the end?

Iryna Drahun’s photography is inspired not only by the artist’s post-Soviet roots, but also her interest in AI-generated imagery. With such an augmented shutter, Iryna captures not only the tangible and natural, but also creates worlds of her own which seamlessly fit into her oeuvre. Read today’s interview to learn about her inspirations, creative decisions and views of the future of art in the era of artificial intelligence.

Eva Jaroňová’s signature style depicts and interweaves opposites to explore beyond binary systems. The Czech artist’s works are known for their dark, humorous and sensual themes, and today’s feature showcases her recent works focusing on the relationship between humans and nature. Read today’s interview to learn about her creative approach and why she waters plants with human blood.

Shoshka took us on a walk through her inspiration garden. Or, more precisely, a seashore. Besides costumes and scenography, her main interest lies in one-of-a-kind jewellery made from found objects such as wild animal bones and teeth, snail shells or remnants of marine life paired with precious metals or freshwater pearls.

Adamant Country is the story of a mandorla, guarding an egg. This sacred space is fertile ground for the interplay of archetypes, meanings, and cosmic cycles. Enter the world of Czech artist Petra Janda, the laureate of the Jindřich Chalupecký Award, as she weaves you into her intimate landscape.

"Hĕracha" means "a girl" in Chuvash language. Isenkkel and Vella Akhtimer founded the art group and fashion brand HӖRACHA to explore the possibilities of contemporary art entangled with fashion design. In an interview with the artists below, get a primer on Chuvash folklore, traditions and fairy tales that are deconstructed and reinterpreted to find points of contact with the universal human experience.

Hélène L. Vaneukem’s works, bordering on sci-fi and fantasy, blend botanical observation and post-internet approaches in creating a canvas for your projections. Her captivating animations and illustrations are a journey of exploring the intimate topics of selfhood, developmental psychology and spirituality, and today’s interview dazzles with the French artist’s insight.

“The creation has the soul of the creator.” Juhee Park, a young knitwear designer currently residing and working in France, introduced us to her layered amorphous sprawling creatures that seem like they stepped out of her personal glamorous mythology.

At first glance, Iva Davidová’s paintings invite into a soft, ethereal dreamscape. Deeper under the surface however lies an exploration of societal paradoxes which have long prevented solidarity and compassion. Explore the Czech artist’s poetic works accompanied by unique personal insight.

“Always a combination of a material and a problem.” Via a captivating interview, Natalia Kopytko invites us to explore her world of childhood archeology, social exclusion and forgotten stories, whether manifested through ceramic sculptures reminiscent of knotted seaweed or installations of stuffed textile organic shapes spilling over into space.

Nadiia Pliamko’s 3D art captivates the eye with its complexity, which at the same time sings a harmonious, life-affirming song of awe and color. The Ukrainian artist combines classic approaches with contemporary tools to explore fairy tales, fashion, but also everyday life in her signature surreal symbolism. Explore her works accompanied by a dazzling interview that emanates her intellect and artistic maturity.

Especially in the art world (but applicable universally), savouring, storing, sustaining and protecting your creative stimuli and inputs is just as paramount as letting them flow. Our fourth 2023 theme, ROOTS OF TASTE, seeks to find visual representations of our deepest, inherent drives to create that both anchor and activate us. The theme's animation was custom-made by Hélène L. Vaneukem.