Olek (artist) explained

Olek
Birth Name:Agata Oleksiak
Birth Date:1978 4, df=yes[1]
Birth Place:Ruda Śląska, Poland[2]
Nationality:Polish American
Field:performance, installation, sculpture, fibre art
Training:Adam Mickiewicz University
Patrons:National Endowment for the Arts,[3] Fund for Creative Communities[4]

Agata Oleksiak (born 5 April 1978), known as Olek, is a Polish artist who is based in New York City. Their works include sculptures, installations such as crocheted bicycles, inflatables, performance pieces, and fiber art. They have covered buildings, sculptures, people, and an apartment with crochet and have exhibited in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, France, Italy, Poland, and Costa Rica.

Early life and career

Olek graduated with a degree in Cultural Studies from Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland, in 2000. They then attended LaGuardia College, where they won the National Arts Club's award for sculpture.[5] Their early work included sculptures, costumes, and inflatables.

Olek first used crocheting as part of their art in 2003 after moving to the United States. They "wowed critics" at the Williamsburg Arts and Historical Society Surrealist Fashion Show that year.[6] In 2004, Olek created "a large tentlike piece made of crocheted strips of cloth, hair, cassette tape and stuffed animals" work for a four-person show. The New York Times said this work gave the show at 5BE Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, "a tour-de-force center to work around."[7] Their crocheted sculpture Spill (2005), featured in the Washington Post, included 1,300 skinny white balloons cascading in an "intestinal shape".[8] They participated in The Waterways, a "socially conscious" art project on a vaporetto water bus during the 2005 Venice Biennale; their work, called Camouflage, "exploring the androgyny of fixed identity, sexuality, and culture".[9] In September and October of that year, Olek crocheted the windows of a burned-out, abandoned building near their artist residency in Utica, New York.[10] During this period, their costumes for theatre and dance performances drew critical praise,[11] [12] although a dance performance relating to one of their sculptures was criticized.[13]

Philosophy

Olek's creative philosophy is that "Life and art are inseparable."[14] In 2009, they stated:

As an active supporter of women's rights, sexual equality, and freedom of expression, Olek has used the broad appeal of their work to display their solidarity with those stifled by oppressive laws worldwide. Through their body of work, Olek has always sought to bring color and life, energy, and surprise to the living space.[15]

Selected works

Olek has exhibited in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Turkey,[16] France, Italy, Spain,[17] Finland,[18] Sweden,[19] Poland, and Costa Rica.[20] In 2009 and 2016, they were a resident artist at Brazil's Instituto Sacatar.[21]

Olek's crocheted full body clothing, dubbed "wearable sculptures",[22] has been used in various projects where Olek took their participants onto the New York City Subway. Olek's DUMBO Arts Festival piece was "Painting to Shake Hands" on an "event score" in Yoko Ono's Grapefruit. Participants wore their sculptures and placed a hand through a stretched canvas to shake the hands of passers-by. A second performance was dubbed "Crocheted Grapefruit". Performance piece "Thank You for Your Visit, Have a Nice Day", performed on Manhattan's 14th Street during the 2009 event, Art in Odd Places:SIGN, was inspired "by a uniformed attendant holding a "Hold the Handrail" sign in a Taipei metro station".[23] Performers held placards based on signs noticed by Olek that were "emphatic, ironic or amused dialogue with their location."[22]

Their first solo exhibition, "Knitting is for Pus****",[24] was held at Christopher Henry Gallery. In 2010 they exhibited a false apartment in which the contents, including the residents, were covered in crocheting.[25] The installation took years to prepare using yarn skeins.[26] It was originally scheduled to run from 9 September to 17 October 2010,[27] but closed in May 2011 after a series of extensions. During that period, the gallery exhibited their work at the SCOPE Art Show in Miami.[28] In this and other works, members of the public or the media were included,[29] crocheted directly into suits without traditional fasteners.[30] [31] According to the gallery, after the exhibition closed the work was priced at $90,000.

In late December 2010, Olek installed a crocheted suit over "Charging Bull" (1989), a statue on Wall Street, as a tribute to Arturo Di Modica, who installed the sculpture without permission. A park caretaker tore the suit from the statue two hours later.[32] [33] Olek was the 2010-2011 Workspace artist-in-residence at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, during which they created and performed at the Whitney Museum of American Art.[34] In May 2011, they won the "Sculpture In Situ" category at the second Urban Arts Awards (Artaq).[35]

In August 2011, Olek held a solo exhibition at Jonathan LeVine Gallery.[36] They collaborated with director Gina Vecchione and producer Michelle Price to create a short silent film called YARNANA, through Kickstarter-based fundraising. "Inspired by the silent film genre, it relies solely on powerful music, sound design and physical expression. The characters speak through modern dance, physical comedy, capoeira, martial arts, poi, belly dancing, breakdance, acrobatics, gymnastics and the instincts of soul searchers." The project's funding was ultimately canceled on Kickstarter,[37] [38] but the film was still created, and it won a film festival award.[39] [40] Their first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom, called "I do not expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone", was influenced by their experiences while they lived there.[41]

Olek changed materials for a joint exhibition with David E. Peterson in New York City;[42] they used thousands of semi-inflated balloons,[43] crocheted like yarn to create a cave-like structure inside the gallery. The artist noted their love of the ephemeral nature of the medium; the balloons often popped during the creation of the installation, and required immediate repair to prevent it unraveling entirely.[44] The installation will gradually wither.[45] They said that balloons represent "the happiest moments in life — which are often just as impermanent". Some visitors noted a pungent scent of latex.[43] Olek was inspired by their time as a traveling clown for Health Plus, when they would visit poor New York neighborhoods.[46] They had previously used balloons during their residency in Brazil.[46]

They were included in the Renwick Gallery's 2012–2013 40 under 40: Craft Futures.[47] [48]

In 2014, as one of a number of underwater crocheted works produced in collaboration with PangeaSeed to draw attention to threats to the oceanic ecosystem, Olek covered a bomb-shaped sculpture at the Cancún Underwater Museum in Mexico with a crocheted "cosy"; the museum complained that this had harmed aquatic life.[49] In 2015, as part of St+Art Delhi 2015, they covered a women's shelter in Delhi with crochet to raise awareness of its existence among those who need it.[50]

In April 2016, they draped the facade of Virginia MOCA with a giant crocheted New York Times front page, dated 2020 and featuring ecologically themed good news stories.[51] Also in 2016, they created an installation at Verket, a museum in Avesta, Sweden, and was aided by Syrian and Ukrainian women refugees; after hearing their stories, they were inspired to cover a house in Avesta and another in Kerava, Finland, entirely with pink crochet to illustrate the power of women.[52] [53] While working in Avesta, the refugee women described their stories of how they had lost everything during the war. This motivated Olek to create a short film, "In the Blink of an Eye," where they exploded a crocheted house inside the Verket Museum.[54] On 3 November 2016, a pink blanket crocheted by Olek and thirty-eight volunteers, featuring Hillary Clinton's face and the hashtag #ImWithHer in black and white, was nailed to a billboard in New Jersey.[55] In December 2016, Olek exhibited the piece entitled, "You Can't Fool All The People," at MANA Wynwood in Miami.[56]

2011 arrest

On 6 October 2011, Olek and a man were involved in an incident in a bar in London. Charged with unlawful wounding, unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of possessing a bladed article in a public place,[57] Olek was tagged with an ankle monitor, was under house arrest for over a month,[57] but was allowed to attend a show in Poland.[58] In September 2012 at Southwark Crown Court, they were found not guilty of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but guilty of unlawful wounding; the following November they were sentenced to home curfew. After serving their sentence, they installed a crochet piece with the message "kiss the future" on "5 block[s] of Hell in Vancouver" and then a 65-foot crochet banner with the same message in Polish in a prison in Katowice.[59]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olek-Info. Facebook. 28 June 2011.
  2. Wendy Goodman . May 2011 . I Yarn-Bombed This . New York Magazine . New York NY . New York Media Holdings . 22 May 2011 .
  3. Web site: Olek. Agata. Please, join me! and JUST BRING YOUR CLOTHES. OLEK. 3 June 2011. New York NY. 15 October 2009.
  4. Web site: Olek. Agata. Crocheted Grapefruit Performances June 19 (Sun), 20 (Mon), 21 (Tues). OLEK. 3 June 2011. New York NY. 17 May 2011.
  5. 28th Annual Student Show. The National Arts Club Bulletin. Spring 2004. 6 June 2011. 3. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190027/http://www.nationalartsclub.org/news/bulletin/NACspring04.pdf. 20 July 2011. dead.
  6. Web site: Cukrov. Claudia. Crochet Work by Olek. pskf. 12 June 2011. New York NY. 7 May 2009.
  7. News: Cotter. Holland. ART IN REVIEW; 'The Day After I Destroyed the Women I Wished I Had Not Destroyed Them'. 12 June 2011. The New York Times. 6 August 2004. New York NY.
  8. News: Padget. Jonathan. Knit One, Swirls Too. 22 May 2011. Washington Post. 10 February 2005. Washington DC. C05.
  9. Web site: Waterways 2005 Hits the Venice Biennale. https://web.archive.org/web/20121015054420/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/06/prweb248952.htm. dead. 15 October 2012. Varaart-issued press release. PRWEB. 13 June 2011. New York NY. 9 June 2005.
  10. Web site: Agata Olek Oleksiak. SculptureSpace. 13 June 2011. 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20111005093609/http://www.sculpturespace.org/oleksiak/. 5 October 2011. dead.
  11. News: Dunning. Jennifer. Sex-Positive Feminism and the Single Snail. 13 June 2011. The New York Times. 14 June 2007. New York NY. In "Snail" Ms. Anthony slowly moved around the stage in a fantastical piece of looping, wearable sculpture of yarn, rope, twine and wire, created by Agata Oleksiak..
  12. News: Dunning. Jennifer. The Performer Onstage and Her Image on Walls. 13 June 2011. The New York Times. 9 December 2006. New York NY. Agata Oleksiak's costumes, bunched and lacy scraps of white and bright color, added to the fairy-tale look..
  13. News: Dunning. Jennifer. Disrupting Surprises Pounce Amid Serenity. 13 June 2011. The New York Times. 21 November 2005. New York NY. The solo was less interesting when they related to a sculpture by Agata Oleksiak - "unwrapped for the first time" on Saturday, the program promised breathlessly - that consisted of a small stepladder wrapped in white muslin and crammed with balls..
  14. News: Gagliano. Maria. Made in Brooklyn: Olek. 22 May 2011. Brooklyn Based. 5 January 2011. Brooklyn, New York City NY.
  15. Web site: Olek: White Mermaid. heliotrope foundation. 18 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220151227/http://www.heliotropefoundation.org/prints/olek. 20 December 2016. dead.
  16. Web site: Olek. Workspace: Current Session. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. 8 June 2011. Manhattan NY. 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110515044259/http://lmcc.net/artists/workspace/olek. 15 May 2011. dead.
  17. News: Olek - Delimbo Gallery - Arte urbano & Graffiti. Delimbo Gallery - Arte urbano & Graffiti. es-ES. 18 December 2016.
  18. News: Agata Oleksiak is helping refugees find their voice – using yarn. Lott-Lavigna. Ruby. WIRED UK. en-GB. 18 December 2016.
  19. Web site: Proof That Covering Houses In Pink Yarn Makes The World A Better Place. Writer. Priscilla Frank Arts. Post. The Huffington. 6 September 2016. The Huffington Post. 18 December 2016.
  20. "Olek ", professional resume. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  21. Web site: Fairy Tales Are Not Real. INPUT Journal. INPUT Journal Foundation. 4 June 2011. New York NY. 2009.
  22. Art in Odd Places 2009. Time Out New York. 25 August 2009. 23 May 2011. New York NY.
  23. Web site: The Incredible Crocheted World of Olek . Michele . Collet . 2010 . Environmental Graffiti . 23 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727100719/http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-agata-olek-%E2%80%93-crocheted-body . 27 July 2011 . dead .
  24. Note that this is indeed the official name, with asterisks. This represents "Knitting is for Pussies".
  25. Web site: Caporosso. Michele Wad. Crochet art. Vogue Italy. Condè Nast S.p.A.. 6 June 2011. Milano, Italy. 13 January 2011.
    Web site: Crafting a crochet world - in pictures. The Observer. 6 June 2011. London. 22 May 2011. ;News: Parent. Marie-Joëlle. De l'art urbain au crochet. 6 June 2011. canoe divertissement. 11 April 2011. fr.
  26. Web site: An Entire Apartment Covered In Crochet, On Sale For $90,000 . Suzanne . LaBarre . 16 May 2011 . Fast Co. Design . Mansueto Ventures, LLC. . New York NY . 3 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110526063151/http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663850/an-entire-apartment-covered-in-crochet-on-sale-for-90000-slideshow . 26 May 2011 . dead .
  27. Web site: "OLEK: Knitting is for Pus****" at Christopher Henry Gallery. SOHO Journal. 8 June 2011. Manhattan NY. 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110830125231/http://www.sohojournal.com/content/%E2%80%9Colek-knitting-pus%E2%80%9D-christopher-henry-gallery. 30 August 2011. dead.
  28. Web site: Olek - Knitting is for Pus**** Closing Party! . 2011 . Artlog . Brooklyn NY . 23 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727034122/http://artlog.com/events/79391-olek-knitting-is-for . 27 July 2011 . dead .
  29. News: Dicker. Geoffrey. Untitled segment. 8 June 2011. NBC News at 5. 4 February 2011. New York NY.
  30. Web site: The World of Olek . Jowy . Romano . 20 October 2010 . Subway Art Blog . New York NY . 22 May 2011.
  31. Olek, Christopher Henry . 26 November 2010 . Knitting is For Pus**** . streaming video, also as MP4 . documentary short . Vimeo . New York NY . 25 May 2011 . 00:00:10 .
  32. Web site: Olek crocheted the Wall Street Bull . Perler . Elie . 27 December 2010 . Bowery Boogie . New York NY . 22 May 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220717143851/https://boweryboogie.com/2010/12/olek-crocheted-the-wall-street-bull/ . 17 July 2022.
  33. News: Blanco. Octavio. Cozy Wall Street Bull sends warmest wishes. 23 May 2011. CNNMoney. 28 December 2010.
  34. Web site: Ciari. Sabina. Model/Performance Artist- Wearable Sculpture by Olek. Sabina Ciari portfolio. Behance. 22 May 2011.
  35. Web site: Nominated for the Artaq Awards 2011 and winners. 2nd Urban Arts Award. 8 June 2011. 2011.
  36. Web site: Olek: The Bad Artists Imitate, The Great Artists Steal. Jonathan LeVine Gallery. 24 November 2011. New York NY. 12 July 2011.
  37. Web site: YARNANA (Canceled). Kickstarter. 24 November 2011. 2011.
  38. Web site: Olek's Next Project is "YARNANA" Film. Bowery Boogie. 24 November 2011. New York NY. 13 June 2011. Perler. Elie. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717143853/https://boweryboogie.com/2011/06/oleks-next-project-is-yarnana-film/. 17 July 2022.
  39. Web site: Nice Shoes Color Grades YARNANA. Below the Line. 4 April 2012 . 19 September 2015.
  40. Web site: New York. 19 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150913091730/http://flamingonewyork.com/2012/03/23/the-les-film-festival-2012/. 13 September 2015. dead.
  41. Web site: OLEK London Solo Exhibition. Hooked. 28 January 2012. London UK.
  42. News: Exhibit: OLEK and David E. Peterson – 2 person show – "Synthethic Nature". 19 March 2012. Art In New York City. 15 March 2012. New York NY.
  43. Web site: Olek's Crocheted Balloon Funhouse at the Krause Gallery. Bowery Boogie. 19 March 2012. New York NY. Perler. Elie. 16 March 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220717143852/https://boweryboogie.com/2012/03/oleks-crocheted-balloon-funhouse-at-the-krause-gallery/. 17 July 2022.
  44. News: Shapiro. Julie. Balloons Replace Yarn in Crochet Artist Olek's New Show. 19 March 2012. DNAinfo. 16 March 2012. New York NY. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317113554/http://www.dnainfo.com/20120316/lower-east-side-east-village/balloons-replace-yarn-crochet-artist-oleks-new-show. 17 March 2012. dmy-all.
  45. Web site: Tetzloff. Adam. Olek. Downtown at Dawn. 19 March 2012. New York NY. 17 March 2012.
  46. News: Zuckerman. Esther. Olek Inflates Her Work At New Show. 19 March 2012. The Village Voice. 17 March 2012. New York NY.
  47. News: Danielle . O'Steene . '40 under 40: Craft Futures' at the Renwick Gallery. The Washington Post . 23 July 2012 .
  48. Web site: 40 under 40: Craft Futures. Renwick Gallery. Smithsonian Institution. 25 May 2011. Washington DC. 2011.
  49. Web site: Emily . Thomas . Artist Olek's Underwater Crochet 'Bomb' May Have Killed Marine Life . Huffington Post . 20 August 2014 . 3 September 2016 .
  50. News: Jaime . Rojo . Steven . Harrington . Gender, Caste, And Crochet: OLEK Transforms A Shelter In Delhi . Huffington Post . 25 March 2015 . 3 September 2016 .
  51. News: Jaime . Rojo . Steven . Harrington . Olek Crochets The New York Times: 'Good News' At Virginia MOCA . Huffington Post . 25 May 2016 . 3 September 2016 .
  52. Web site: Jasmin Malik . Chua . Olek Covers the Facade of Houses in Sweden, Finland With Pink Crochet . Ecouterre . 1 September 2016 . 3 September 2016 .
  53. Web site: Tara . Bellucci . This House in Finland is Totally Covered in Pink Crochet . Apartment Therapy . 2 September 2016 . 3 September 2016 .
  54. Web site: In the Blink of an Eye. Vimeo. 27 May 2016 . 18 December 2016.
  55. http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/crocheting-hillary-clinton Crocheting Hillary - The New Yorker
  56. News: Juxtapoz Magazine - The Juxtapoz Clubhouse @ MANA Wynwood. EvanPricco. 18 December 2016.
  57. Web site: WHY do I need your help?. Olek's appeal. 19 March 2012. London UK. 8 December 2011.
  58. News: Gray. Rosie. Crochet Artist Olek Is in Legal Trouble in London. 19 March 2012. The Village Voice. 14 December 2011. New York NY.
  59. Web site: Street Artist Olek Goes To Jail in Poland . Brooklyn Street Art . 18 January 2014 .

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