FEATURED ARTIST 50 <strong>September</strong> <strong>2023</strong> www.magzoid.com
Exclusive Sculpt<strong>in</strong>g silk <strong>in</strong>to nature’s embrace K<strong>in</strong>ga Foldi Artist Journey beyond from I n <strong>the</strong> bustl<strong>in</strong>g city of Budapest, amidst <strong>the</strong> chaos of modern life, Hungarian textile artist K<strong>in</strong>ga Földi f<strong>in</strong>ds solace and <strong>in</strong>spiration <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> serenity of nature. Formerly a costume designer, K<strong>in</strong>ga transitioned <strong>in</strong>to becom<strong>in</strong>g a full-time artist, craft<strong>in</strong>g beautiful silk sculptures that are a tribute to <strong>the</strong> wonders of <strong>the</strong> natural world. In this <strong>in</strong>terview, she shares her journey, techniques, and passion for creat<strong>in</strong>g soul-rest<strong>in</strong>g objects. K<strong>in</strong>ga’s Background <strong>in</strong> Textiles Graduat<strong>in</strong>g from Moholy Nagy University of Art and Design as a woven textile designer <strong>in</strong> 2006, K<strong>in</strong>ga’s love for crafts drew her towards explor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> realm of textile art. This art form transcends mere functionality, allow<strong>in</strong>g artists to express thoughts and emotions through various techniques and fabrics. Along her creative path, K<strong>in</strong>ga delved <strong>in</strong>to bobb<strong>in</strong> lace mak<strong>in</strong>g, origami, and o<strong>the</strong>r surface-manipulat<strong>in</strong>g techniques, ultimately pav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> way for her remarkable silk sculptures. Describ<strong>in</strong>g Her Work K<strong>in</strong>ga’s sculptures come to life <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form of delicate floral and animal shapes, emanat<strong>in</strong>g a sense of tranquility and wonder. Nature serves as her ultimate muse, as she immerses herself <strong>in</strong> its beauty and miracles, channel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> shapes, scents, and colors <strong>in</strong>to her art. For years, she worked as a costume designer for <strong>the</strong>aters and choreographers, where she found joy but yearned to express more profound thoughts and emotions. Thus, her journey of self-discovery led her to explore free-stand<strong>in</strong>g sculptures, where she found her true reflection <strong>in</strong> her works. Describ<strong>in</strong>g Her Work K<strong>in</strong>ga’s sculptures come to life <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form of delicate floral and animal shapes, emanat<strong>in</strong>g a sense of tranquility and wonder. Nature serves as her ultimate muse, as she immerses herself <strong>in</strong> its beauty and miracles, channel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> shapes, scents, and colors <strong>in</strong>to her art. For years, she worked as a costume designer for <strong>the</strong>aters and choreographers, where she found joy but yearned to express more profound thoughts and emotions. Thus, her journey of self-discovery led her to explore free-stand<strong>in</strong>g sculptures, where she found her true reflection <strong>in</strong> her works. The Techniques The technique that K<strong>in</strong>ga employs is known as p<strong>in</strong>-tuck. Traditionally used to decorate blouses, she discovered its potential to create three-dimensional objects. By fold<strong>in</strong>g and sew<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fabric meticulously, a rhythmic striped surface emerges, which can be molded <strong>in</strong>to <strong>in</strong>tricate petals and leaves, form<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> basis for her sculptures. Choice of Materials K<strong>in</strong>ga’s favorite fabric is silk, especially <strong>the</strong> textured and lustrous Silk Dupioni, which she discovered dur<strong>in</strong>g her studies and <strong>in</strong>stantly fell <strong>in</strong> love with. The fabric’s dist<strong>in</strong>ct qualities, with its rustic appearance and tactile touch, perfectly complement her artistic vision. The Process of Creation Draw<strong>in</strong>g plays a vital role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>itial stages of K<strong>in</strong>ga’s creative process, allow<strong>in</strong>g her thoughts to take shape. However, it is <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>teraction with <strong>the</strong> fabric that her sculptures truly come alive. Guided by <strong>the</strong> fabric’s responsiveness, she lets her <strong>in</strong>st<strong>in</strong>cts and <strong>the</strong> material’s nature lead her to <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al form. Her process <strong>in</strong>volves three major phases: prepar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fabric, creat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> shape, and fix<strong>in</strong>g it us<strong>in</strong>g a special textile glue. Time and Career Highlights Work<strong>in</strong>g on multiple pieces simultaneously, K<strong>in</strong>ga <strong>in</strong>vests about one to two months to complete one sculpture. Her career highlights <strong>in</strong>clude exhibit<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> 11th Lace Biennial <strong>in</strong> Brussels and receiv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> esteemed ‘Textile Artist of <strong>the</strong> Year 2015’ prize from <strong>the</strong> Cultural Found for Textileart. Notably, her most significant commission <strong>in</strong>volved creat<strong>in</strong>g a magnificent 6-meter-tall origami Christmas tree for Sofitel Budapest Cha<strong>in</strong> Bridge. Advice for Aspir<strong>in</strong>g Textile Artists K<strong>in</strong>ga encourages aspir<strong>in</strong>g artists to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong>ir unique paths, urg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to be patient and trust <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>st<strong>in</strong>cts and feel<strong>in</strong>gs throughout <strong>the</strong>ir artistic journey. Excit<strong>in</strong>g Plans Ahead Look<strong>in</strong>g forward, K<strong>in</strong>ga is work<strong>in</strong>g on a new technique to create more e<strong>the</strong>real objects, and she <strong>in</strong>vites everyone to witness her first experiments on her Instagram page. Moreover, she plans to participate <strong>in</strong> various <strong>in</strong>ternational and Hungary-based exhibitions, with her next event set to take place <strong>in</strong> Eger, Hungary. A Soul-Rest<strong>in</strong>g Vision In an accelerated world filled with overstimulation, K<strong>in</strong>ga’s sculptures offer a moment of tranquility and contemplation. With <strong>the</strong> luxury of observ<strong>in</strong>g one object slowly, she hopes her creations can serve as soul-rest<strong>in</strong>g objects, provid<strong>in</strong>g a much-needed respite <strong>in</strong> our fast-paced lives. - feature@magzoid.com www.magzoid.com <strong>September</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 51