KINO ÚSMEV

Kosice, Slovakia

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drawing paper, paint, movie posters, newspapers

W1500 × H800 mm

 

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In May 2024, I participated in my first artist residency at Kino Úsmev, a historic cinema located in Košice, the second largest city in Slovakia.

 

During my time there, I conducted research on Ester Krumbachová, a Czechoslovakian artist and costume designer active during the Czechoslovak era. Deeply inspired by her visionary contributions to cinema, I created an installation piece based on the dreamlike and rebellious spirit of her films.

 

Alongside the exhibition, I led a film-inspired collage workshop for children, fostering creativity and dialogue through visual storytelling. One of my central references was Daisies, a groundbreaking film created just before the Prague Spring. The image of the young women celebrating their freedom in the film became a powerful symbol of resistance and emotional expression during a time of political repression.

 

To deepen my understanding, I visited the Museum of Communism in Prague, where I learned more about the everyday oppression people experienced during that era. This residency allowed me to explore the intersection of art, politics, and identity in a post-communist cultural context, and it profoundly influenced my practice.