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InspirationArt & Culture

Act of Pattern: Artist mixes European and Middle Eastern cultures to celebrate globalisation

In her intriguing series Act of Pattern, Polish artist Aleksandra Kalisz marks the recent influx of refugees in Europe by creating paintings that focus on women and traditions in different parts of the world, merging female nudes from Europe with the more modest art and design from the Middle East.

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Woman in pale blue shirt with draped fabric lying against patterned wallpaper, arm extended downward in Aleksandra Kalisz's Act of Pattern series

She explains: "Some parts of Europe are having a hard time accepting immigrants and many refugees are having difficulty adapting. Both cultures have rich traditions which have evolved in different ways. Europe has traditionally focused on the human body while the Middle East, due to its religion, has expressed its art in geometrical ornaments. I want to show that these two cultures can create something beautiful.

"The idea of the project came from my recent trip to Spain where I spent almost a year. The south of the country is rich in culture where at some point Catholic, Islamic and Jewish people were living together. Their traditions mixed and created a style called 'Mudéjar'. Seeing extraordinary architecture inspired me to use it in my art in a more modern way. I want my audience to open to foreign cultures through art."

Born in Gdynia, Poland, Aleksandra is currently living and working in Padova, Italy. She studied Fine Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, and received a Master degree at the studio of Maciej Świeszewski in 2016. Currently, he work focuses on female figures and ornaments using different media, whether traditional painting or video installations. Discover more at aleksandrakalisz.com.

Via Creative Boom submission | All images courtesy of the artist

Woman's torso and arm resting on cream-coloured fabric printed with purple and turquoise geometric floral motifs, alongside blue patterned textiles
Person's legs and torso lying on patterned fabric combining European floral designs with blue and geometric Islamic ornaments in Aleksandra Kalisz's Act of Pattern series
Child sitting on geometric patterned fabrics combining blue and gold Islamic motifs with colourful floral textiles, wearing a white embroidered dress
Woman fastening a dark floral patterned robe, standing against a vibrant patterned textile background in Aleksandra Kalisz's Act of Pattern series
Child's bare feet nestled in crimson fabric adorned with jewel-toned geometric patterns, positioned on a decorative red textile with floral and ornamental designs
Close-up of a woman's torso wearing a light blue strapless dress with dark blue floral patterns, surrounded by green and blue patterned fabrics
Detail of a woman's torso wearing sheer white embroidered lace overlaid with intricate geometric patterns in Aleksandra Kalisz's Act of Pattern series
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