Danka Jankelova

Q: In what ways has living in the Kororo Basin influenced your creative work?

A: Interaction with nature is the basis for my creative process. Some of my besties are birds. But it is not just its beauty, but what lies behind it, the magic of the place. My creative process, especially with macrame, is intuitive, meaning I don’t design my art upfront; I need my “antenna”, so to speak, to work. So the magnetism of nature is essential, and Kororo is beaming with it. The principles needed for a relationship with a place and for creating art are the same. Patience, being present, and dedication to purification of your heart. The basin is great for all of this and has been instilling in me even more reverence for the glory that this earth carries.

Q: Your work is currently featured in the Tree-O Gallery exhibition alongside Bruce Booker, Ivinnie Brown, and Adrienne Hmelnitsky. What does this exhibition mean to you, and how does it reflect your current work?  

A: It is my first time having my art displayed alongside well-known artists I respect, so an absolute honour to be able to contribute to the walls. Having my work curated by the amazing artist and gallery curator Jenny Parkin has been a dream! It is an absolute gem to be part of something that is so conducive that it all becomes a harmony of each other’s art. I am very grateful for the opportunity also because it proves that nothing will ever beat seeing art in person, especially in such a gorgeous space. I admire and respect Bim’s work, and Tree-o Gallery is a great example of what having hard work as your creative principle at the core of your practice produces, and what striving for excellence looks like. I think these values are art in themselves; they are a lifestyle at the core of artistic practice, and the art as a result is the cherry on top.

Q: You share visual art inspiration and design collections online as well as exhibiting locally. How do you balance your online presence with your local artistic practice, and what do you hope audiences take away from your work?  

A: That is a great question, as I feel I finally am creating a balance! Online space has been my go to for years, as my collectors are dotted around the world. However, this current exhibition has shown me the importance of shifting my focus much more towards showing my art in spaces where people can physically spend some time and see my work in person. Ultimately, I’d like my art to simply be a source of joy and a tool for people to re-energize, to help receive whatever it is they need, I’d love it to be just you and the art for a moment. My hope is that my work enhances the beauty of spaces, and is able to have a restorative effect, just like nature.

What Group Exhibition Where Tree-O Furniture Gallery, 7 Alex Pike Drive, Raleigh When Now until 17 Oct