Klara's Collages: A Personal Exploration of Trauma and Identity

In line with the "Paper as Medium and Matter" theme of this year's "Self Topography on Paper" exhibition, Klara's work delves into the intimate exploration of her family's ongoing trauma. Her collages, crafted from worn, stained, and fragile paper, resonate with the symbolic weight of her emotional landscape. The choice of such delicate materials reflects the fragility and transience inherent in the human condition, as paper becomes both medium and metaphor for her internal experiences.

Klara's use of paper, reminiscent of skin, highlights its capacity to bear marks—both visible and invisible—left by time, events, and emotions. Her works are a testament to the "loud presence of absences," where each collage serves as a topography of thoughts, memories, and pain. This physical and metaphorical layering mirrors the intricate structure of paper itself, with each piece revealing layers of personal and collective narratives.

The artist's decision to incorporate the backs of old framed pictures as a base introduces a powerful dichotomy—"the other side of the coin." This choice symbolizes the hidden aspects of life, the unspoken struggles, and the complexities of roles such as being a mother or a wife. Through this unique approach, Klara questions how circumstances leave their indelible marks and what stories lie beneath the surface.

As she contemplates experimenting with text, potentially embroidering words onto paper, Klara navigates the delicate balance between self-expression and the privacy of her family's experiences. The inclusion of text, even if minimal, would serve as a potent addition, further connecting the personal and the universal, and allowing her art to transcend the visual medium.

Klara's work is a poignant exploration of the interplay between vulnerability and resilience. It invites viewers to engage with the nuanced layers of her experiences and the broader theme of paper as a medium that captures the essence of human life. Her collages not only tell her personal story but also contribute to a collective narrative, enriching the exhibition's exploration of paper's historical, cultural, and emotional significance.

Klara's Perspective: Navigating Unseen Struggles

In my recent work, I find myself drawn to the delicate and complex nature of paper, using it as a metaphor for the fragility and resilience of the human experience. The worn and fragile paper that forms the base of my collages serves as a canvas for my reflections on pain and struggle—unseen but deeply felt. These materials resonate with the emotional turbulence I've experienced, capturing the weight of invisible burdens and the quiet strength required to carry them.

As I navigate this tumultuous period, the creative process becomes a means of processing and confronting the whirlwind of emotions. My pieces are layered with elements that speak to the rapid and overwhelming nature of life when everything seems to happen all at once. The use of the backs of old framed pictures as a base symbolizes the hidden aspects of my journey—the parts of myself and my experiences that I keep private, even as they profoundly shape who I am.

There's a tension in my work between the desire to reveal and the need to protect. The potential inclusion of text, possibly embroidered on paper, is an exploration of this tension. While I grapple with how much to disclose, the act of incorporating words becomes a way to navigate the boundary between what is shared and what remains unsaid. It's a delicate balance, as I work to honor the complexity of my emotions and the privacy of those involved.

Through my art, I grapple with the challenges of keeping certain struggles hidden, even as they dominate my reality. The sense of being overwhelmed by the rapid succession of events—events that reshaped my world—finds expression in the fragmented, layered nature of my collages. Each piece becomes a quiet testament to the enduring strength required to face such intense experiences, while also acknowledging the scars that remain.

In essence, my collages are a reflection on the difficulty of maintaining a facade while enduring profound emotional turmoil. They are an attempt to capture the quiet, often solitary process of coming to terms with what cannot be openly discussed. Through this work, I hope to convey the complexity of pain and resilience, offering a glimpse into the hidden landscapes of the heart.