Collection 4 THE NORTH

Yuri Pleskun by Damon Baker
28
KALTBLUT: Have you
ever gone to any art
school or something like
that?
Jacky: Oh yeah, I’ve studied
for 8 years at creative schools.
I started at a college for styling
and window-dressing which
wasn’t my forte as I look back
on it, although it gave me the
opportunity to test out all sorts
of things, graphically as well
as sculptural. During that period
I made more installations
than actual window displays
for shops. Instructors weren’t
happy but I was.
As a young kid I had this big
dream of wanting to go to the
Academy Of Arts. I basically
spent all my time preparing
for art school. I tried out loads
of techniques at home and was
basically always busy with
creating something.
Once, I almost lit my carpet
in my room on fire because I
had the idea to do something
with burned paper. Anyway,
I recently graduated at the
Willem de Kooning Academy
in Rotterdam where I took a
course in Fine Art. While my
peers produced very conceptual
work I was always
busy with the craft of things.
I moved for a period of time
to Calgary, Canada, to do a
double major in intermediate
sculpture and glassblowing at
the ACAD institute. I think I
have been challenging myself
in exploring new things and
finally have found something
I like doing best. Funny that
it started off in my first year
with works from cut up paper
and ended with it too.
KALTBLUT: Ice-Land,
legend, myths.. this is our
theme this time. What comes
to your mind when
you hear those words?
Jacky: Mythic creatures,
dark fairly tales, long nights
and deep, rich contrasts. Also
boys with very pale skintones,
beards and red-ish hair. Iceland
is of course an amazing
country which I’d love to visit
one day.
KALTBLUT: Is there any
artist you would say is
your personal icon?
And why?
Jacky: I’m able to find inspiration
in all sorts of things.
There isn’t just one artist in
particular. There is this Italian
writer Alessandro Baricco,