Irena in the age of coronavirus - Irena Podvorac
When deliberating on the topic of women’s legacy, I singled out several recollections that are dear to me and are rooted deeply in my memory. My grandmother Danica, with infinite balls of wool and yarn, knits mittens, socks, pullovers, vests. She wrought her love of plants into her weaving by making clothing items out of crocheted leaves and flowers. My mum sews caps and dresses on grandma’s sewing machine. Grandma Ela loved plants, she took pride in her blooming balcony and garden. The love I have of greenery, plants and flowers began with her. The legacy of German-Czech cuisine resulted in dishes full of dough: dumplings and potato pancakes. Mum and grandma often kneaded dough, my most favourite food, potato pancakes. Today, I see these inwrought patterns when working with clay, when I roll it as dough is rolled with a pin. I model it into the desired shape of dirty fingers, as I used to do in my childhood when I played with dough. I grew up alongside strong women, who withstood and endured difficult times, wars, losses of loved ones, they are all connected by love, family, and a sense of working with hands. Handiwork, needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, and sewing. The needle, the yarn, the hand that knits, the hand that caresses, the inwrought joys and sorrows.
How I flourished
2022, porcelain, glaze, gold, 12 x 11 x 14 cm
Generational threads
2022, porcelain, 13 x 12 x 15 cm