Wdka Willem De Kooning Academy
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Contemporary Craft / Ceramics / Textiles - Print
My location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
First Name: Denisa
Last Name: Voláková
University / College: Wdka Willem De Kooning Academy
Course / Program: Product Design BA
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Contemporary Craft / Ceramics / Textiles - Print
My Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
From childhood, I have navigated through life with the burden of memory deficiencies, often wrestling with feelings of inadequacy and fear of forgetting things, people, and places. This personal experience extends beyond memory challenges. When I was 17 I damaged my hearing at a concert, and due to this, I became temporarily deaf in my left ear. Subsequently leading to the onset of tinnitus – a condition characterized by the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli. This experience influenced me a lot as I started to fear silence/emptiness and became eager to be surrounded by crowded places. “Horror Vacui“ is a term in Latin that means “fear of empty space”. Beyond its visual aspects, my interest delves into the profound emotional experiences evoked by the fear of emptiness. My installation serves as a reflection of my state of mind. Despite its negative connotations, I view Horror Vacui as a catalyst for creation rather than a burden. The visual component represents my memories. Using analog photos, I crafted a collage translated onto clay through techniques such as screen printing, laser engraving, extruding, or hand engraving. These tiles draw inspiration from damaged fresco paintings, bridging the past with the modern world. The tiles are accompanied by a fabric decorated with a collage print that plays with the translucency and disappearing memories. The sound takes you on a journey to experience how it feels to have tinnitus.