folktale pattern series
I begin each piece with a freehand sketch, forming an intricate, almost mirror-like shape that flows intuitively, as if it’s guiding its own creation. Through this organic process, patterns emerge that reflect the metaphysical essence of each folkloric subject. These forms are shaped by human intention, imagination, history and, ultimately, our future.
In this work, I aim to represent the evolving nature of collective cultural memory, and how it continuously shapes the world ahead. The complex lattice of patterns suggests that our perception of the past is often entwined with myth. Some elements in the designs resemble human figures; others shift into plant-like or animalistic forms. As the pattern develops, familiar shapes distort and transform, giving rise to something entirely new.
This fluid transformation speaks to the creation of future mythologies challenging the idea of the past as fixed, trustworthy, or absolute. Much like the ancient protective markings carved into church walls, symbols continue to permeate our world. From corporate logos and political insignias to road signs, religious icons, and scientific emblems, symbols shape how we understand both history and the present moment. They embody power, resistance, belief, and ideology.
In my designs, I explore how such symbols have contributed to a kind of universal language—one often centred around wealth and control.
My goal is to question and disrupt this:
How can we create a symbolic language that liberates us from consumerism, rather than drawing us deeper into it?
Can art become a means of communication under current or even future oppressive systems?
click through below to read more about the folktales that inspired each pattern
