Anika Kowalik is a multidisciplinary artist from Milwaukee, WI. Kowalik’s work provides an exploration of intangible dream-like spaces, bringing them into tangible space in the form of installations, object making, painting, drawing and poetry. These spaces are brought into the physical world for those who have shared experiences within Blackness. Kowalik believes Black people should have multiple forms of escapism— seeing that the reality of being Black is oversaturated with violence and suffering. Providing a space to be fantastic—that contains moments of comfort, joy and infinite possibility are key principles for their work.
As a part of their Artist-in-the-STUDIO residency, Kowalik created work relating to the exhibition theme of Return to the Real, prompted by the question: “What is real to you, and what is the opposite?”
Kowalik shares that, “having access to multiple forms of escapism is essential to the Black collective. Our realities are constantly being oversaturated with violence against our person daily. I’ve always been a vivid daydreamer for as long as I can remember. The use of escapism to dissociate became ritualistic. These landscapes served as providers of safety, comfort, healing and closure when the outside world didn’t offer that to me— or felt I was undeserving of it. It’s vital to give Black people the moment to fantasize and expand. Giving ourselves the platform to deviate from ills of society into alternate realms; to exist within spaces that contain infinite possibility for us.
“Even if it’s just for a moment.
“In tandem with Return to the Real, my work calls for bringing intangible spaces into the physical world to those who have shared experiences within Blackness. Recreating a representation of a space that only appears real to me, to then— share with others is necessary for activation of the work. There are certain nuances that can only be detected and understood through physical confrontation. While I see my work having a living space in the virtual realm, the virtual landscape brings it back into an intangible space—defeating the intention that it was made for.”
A copy of Anika’s project below is included in the STUDIO project, Analog/Digital Accordion Book kit. You can pick-up a kit from the Social STUDIO during the Arts Center’s open hours.
Drawing from Memory
Materials you could use:
Glitter glue pens, paper (something durable like watercolor paper), colored pencils, markers, assorted colors of tissue paper, scissors, glue stick, and any other materials you have that you’d like to use.
Steps:
Download the handout and chart Anika designed, gather your materials, and enjoy the creative process.
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