HK - jizos

For childless mothers and travelers, set of stickers, 2019

(project made during Artist in Aso Residency)

The Prelude to the Safe Place, drawing installation, 2020

The feeling of safety seems to be one of the most important needs of man.

It is not, however, an obvious thing. It depends on past experience and held beliefs. It does not fit squarely into established definitions. It can be manipulated.

And so, paradoxically, the small Japanese town laying in the shadow of an active volcano can turn out to be the safest place in the world. Stone statues can start to guarantee peace of mind. Many representations of lesser god met during daily walks can, in a way, become caring friends.

In Japanese mythology, O-Jizo protects the souls of children, bringing some relief to the parents.

He is also the protector of travelers.

By capturing his many images and compulsive multiplication of them, O-Jizo becomes a kind of talisman for the artist.

A good luck wish for others and a personal symbol of safety.

While staying in Aso, I was spending a lot of time just walking around and enjoying my immediate surroundings. During these walks, I encountered many little statues which I later learnt where depictions of O-Jizo-Sama (お地蔵様). After some time, I started to actively look for these statues, taking photos of each one I managed to found. Photographs were later turned into drawings.

I was working on few different projects during my residency, but I really wanted to make something I could give to people. Something to remember me by but also something that could act as a bit of a charm. I decided to use the illustration to create a set of stickers.

Upon my return to Poland, I continued to draw and re-draw the little figures from the photos I had taken. It became kind of mantra. There was a safety in repetition. At the beginning of 2020, I made an installation out of over 400 originals and approximately 3000 xero copied illustrations. It was prepared for Soon_ - the project led by Starak Family Foundation that aims at promoting young artists.

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