photo Alexandros Lambrovassilis
Bio
Olek (www.agatolek.com )was born Agata Oleksiak and moved to NYC after graduating from Mickiewicz University in Poland. Rediscovering her crocheting skills as a sculptor landed Olek’s mixed-media sculptural environments in galleries in NYC, Poland, and Toronto, in an independent collective exhibition during the 49th Venice Biennale and the 9th International Istanbul Biennale. Her achievements include The R. Mellon Award for Sculpture, residencies at Sculpture Space, NY and Instituto Sacatar, Brazil, winner of apex art gallery commercial competition that was featured on PBS. Olek has been reviewed in The New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, Village Voice and Fiberarts Magazine.
Artist Statement
I am crocheting a sculpture for my body, the ready-made. The “cover” completely redefines my movement and my identity – sexual, personal and cultural. Then I take the end of the twine and by ripping it apart, I start remaking it. When the “new” suit of armor is ready I am being exposed as an object. Then I put this hand-crocheted wearable sculpture onto my body and take the end of the cord and undo the ‘cover’ again and again. The artwork is destroyed as it is created, and created out of its own destruction.