In her dark, fantastical works, Polish artist Dorota Jurczak constructs a unique mythology, in which a central role is played by mysterious, fragile, and disturbing creatures, often inspired by Eastern European iconography. Her sculptures, reliefs, drawings, and prints update the legacy of historical crafts, while intertwining in a narrative about transience and corporeality.
Dorota Jurczak’s work is highly stylized, reminiscent of snippets of some mystical tale that defies traditional logic. The artist draws from puppetry and its ability to bring to life characters and transform them into narrative vehicles. Like in the Czech tradition, where the puppet’s existence immerses the viewer in constant tension between animation and dead matter, the characters created by this Polish artist live in strange, dreamlike worlds bearing this paradoxical dynamic. Constant dialogue between fragility and a dark force imbues their appearance with a disturbing yet fascinating character. Dorota Jurczak has participated in many international shows, and her works have been exhibited at institutions such as Tate Modern in London, Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, the CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art in Bordeaux, and MoMA PS1 in New York. She resides in Palermo.
