Garaža Kamba

Poland and paper. Two words that brought together four young artists – Helga Alaker, Ela Leko, Leo Subanović and Marijeta Markovina – in a shared experience of creating and exploring a new medium. In Poland, in the city of Łódź, they encountered paper-making as a unique artistic form. The process involves transforming natural fibres into sheets or three-dimensional objects. But more than just a technique, this process became a space for the artists to experiment, play with materials, and express their individual artistic voices.
Their approaches were shaped by the inner states and reflections they experienced during their stay in Łódź. Stepping into the unknown and adjusting to a new environment left a different mark on each of them. That very encounter became their main source of inspiration. Through their works, consciously or not, the artists translated their personal experiences.
Helga presents a series of abstract pieces. The contrast between dark, cool tones and vivid yellows and oranges is a visual reflection of her adjustment to a climate she initially found gloomy, damp, and foggy.
Ela’s work also explores her experience of the surrounding environment. Using circular paper forms in shades of black and grey, she creates an abstract composition through which she releases the anxiety she faced during her time abroad.
Leo and Marijeta both use warm colours in their works. Leo’s geometric forms resemble children’s toys – which reflect the playful way he approached both travel and the new setting. Marijeta’s piece is marked by a search for a sense of safety. A hanging mobile in soft tones becomes a gentle refuge, inspired by the figure of the mother – or more precisely, by the collective memory of what we call “the maternal.”
Working with paper opened a door to a meditative, intuitive and deeply personal process, through which the artists shared glimpses of their inner worlds.

Gallery