Marta Wakula-Mac

MARTA WAKUŁA-MAC

Linocut
Etching
Drawing
Illustrations
Painting

Brian Lalor
Prof. Piotr Jargusz
Prof. Jerzy Jędrysiak

Brian Lalor
Chairman Graphic Studio Dublin

FROM THE DARK EDGE OF EUROPE
The friend of Samuel Beckett and Trinity College Dublin scholar, A.J.Leventhal, writing of Atelier 17, the famous Paris print studio established by Stanley William Hayter in 1927, described it as a kind of commune in which each member is free to pursue their own impulse, and at the same time discuss with and seek advice of fellow artists. Atelier 17 was the model for Graphic Studio Dublin, the oldest and largest fine-art print studio in Ireland which was established in 1960 by a group of dedicated artists and intellectuals that included the painter Anne Yeats, daughter of the poet W.B.Yeats, and Liam Miller founder of Irelands principal literary publishing house, the Dolmen Press. Graphic Studio Dublin today is run on the same principles of communal activity and mutual support for artistic endeavours and is well known for the major international touring exhibitions which it curates. It has a fluctuating membership of around a hundred artists mostly based in Ireland but also including members in Sweden, Japan, Germany and Great Britain. Recently the Studio acquired a major nineteenth century warehouse as its new premises which have been described by Lars Nyberg, the celebrated Swedish drypoint artist as ‘probably the finest print studio in Europe’.
Marta Wakula-Mac joined Graphic Studio Dublin in 2004 and has become an active member of the Studio, participating in numerous exhibitions at the Studio’s own Gallery and taking part in various artistic projects. Most recently her work was included in Dublin Port Prints a juried competitive print show hosted by the Dublin Port company and she has been invited to participate in a prestigious themed print exhibition ‘Revelation’ at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2008.
Looking at Marta’s work for this exhibition, the prints seem to divide into the opposing areas of the sublime and the demotic and form an unusual contrast of themes and techniques. The works inspired by the New Testament Book of Revelation, all of which are linocuts, are a superb response to a profound and complex text to which the artist has brought her own highly individual visual sensibility. From the medieval iconography of the Last Judgement to the melancholy figure of the Beast, there is a consistent seriousness of intention and superb mastery of the skill of linocut. The majestic and fearsome figure, Woman, is one of the most memorable of the Apocalyps images and is invested with both drama and apprehension. Four, which depicts the image of the horsemen rising above the human realm is interpreted in a manner which is wholly original, a difficult achievement with such a well known subject. All of these prints possess a pervasive atmosphere of otherworldly dignity, totally appropriate to the interpretation of a mystical topic.
From the mystical to magic realism, the etchings which accompany Susan Knights story Gomorra, recently published in Dublin, are a departure in technique, content and treatment. Here Marta Wakula-Mac has developed into etching, aquatint and also the use of multi-plate colour printing (a speciality of Graphic Studio Dublin) and displays a lightness of touch and irreverent humour in her portrayal of some very human characters, far removed from the elevated regions of the Apocalypse. Gommorah is emblematic of this strange and energetic world of people in interiors, at parties, dancing or in crowds on the street. Band, Basement Club, Bonfire and Party are close to the circles of Dante’s Inferno in the frenzied manner in which the figures seem possessed of a kind of manic energy, embracing and gyrating in confined spaces. More soberly, there are also more simple works in this sequence such as the monochrome A Glass of Coke or Loving Spoon where one or more figures occupy the space with their concerns and exude a sense of solitary quietness.
Individual works, unrelated to the major groups are also worthy of mention, particularly the beautiful and erotically charged Lovers, Japanese in its linear mastery, and Guardian Angel where the purity of inspiration and execution demonstrate the artist’s powers.
The principal source of Marta Wakula-Mac’s inspiration is literature and she brings a finely honed visual language to bear on her chosen subject matter as well as a refined sense of appropriateness in her responses. While her work has its sources in literature, her imagery rises beyond the texts to become significant visions from the mind’s eye and from contemporary life, presenting interpretations of the world which are troubling, intriguing and ultimately as all art should be, spiritually stimulating.

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Prof. Piotr Jargusz
School of Art, Pedagogical Academy in Cracow

Marta Wakula–Mac graduated from the Institute of Art in Cracow (completing her diploma thesis in the studio of one of the most famous Polish artists – Professor Jerzy Jędrysiak). Marta has had a couple of significant solo exhibitions in her artistic career and is a brave artist.
In her unique way – once grotesque, other times very surrealistic she attempts to describe her apprehensions. When Marta decided to move to Ireland she already had her own style. (Winston Churchill once said that the Polish are a bit like the Irish, but a bit more…).
Marta has brought with her vast experiences, both from the professional perspective as well as from discussions on spiritual existence – omnipresent in Polish art for hundreds of years.
Marta would not be the artist she is today without the important elements of Polish art, without the affirmation of her rich, personal experiences.
Neither would her art exist without Cracow – a very special place on the map of the world, where life is unique.
Marta is interested in the relationship between word and imagery (the Apocalypse) - she is doing illustrations for the book “Gomorrah” by Susan Knight.
Driven by self-exploration and discovering the world around her, the artist is constantly experimenting, trying to describe the Universe by drawing it, carving it or by etching it.
Marta has a very strong artistic personality. She is living her artistic life by continually exploring it.
Linocut is her sheer passion. Extremely determined, she is adding more works of art to her existing collection – they are an outcome of her constant artistic exploration and her life experiences.
She is searching for signs and symbols unique for her.
The ultimate goal of her art is to express what cannot be expressed, the non-existent, to refer to the ordinary and mystical in a contemporary life.
Marta’s artistic personality and persistence guarantee success.

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Prof. Jerzy Jędrysiak
School of Art, Pedagogical Academy in Cracow

When we look at works of art we often think to ourselves – why is it that the artist puts so much effort and skill, so much time and engagement into creating it? It seems that all modern artists are concerned with is the presentation of the piece, while the form is of less importance (can be coincidental). Does it mean then that a rough draft of an artwork is a simplistic art in itself or is it just a base for more ambitious art?
Drawings that Marta Wakuła-Mac creates, with lightness and joy so characteristic of a child, created freely, without any rules, are just a start for her artistic elaboration.
Marta uses the technique of linocut along with metal techniques. While being very spontaneous, at the same time she is extremely consistent. In the search of her own artistic identity Marta follows her intuition and do not get mislead by the ostensible chaos, scattered lines and motion – this is exactly how she describes the world she sees. This way of picturing her art is a stimulating game with the form which invites you to exercise your imagination.
Being true to her favorite black and white, in her new works, Marta is introducing colour. But even the black and white pieces from her most recent collection emanate ‘colour’ – it is how she differentiates the strength of the lines, the saturation of the prevailing black and white it is all about her confidence in creating the art.
In the last couple of years we can observe in Marta’s art new fascinations, different forms of prints – illustrations. She passionately endeavours to respond with her art to texts of literature. We have seen the illustration – linocut ‘Woman from the dunes’ where the source of inspiration was a story by the Japanese writer Abe Kobo. We have also admired ‘Guardian Angel’, an illustration to the Bible, so different in its content and meaning.
Currently Marta is working on series of pieces for a story by Susan Knight – a grotesque portrayal of some very human characters.
You can recognize Marta’s works of art instantly, and you can see how more refined her style becomes day by day. Marta feels very comfortable with so many subject matters, responding with her art to a wide variety of themes.
Mutual overlapping of text and illustration in a story aims at exercising the reader’s imagination.
Every artist, when illustrating, should bear in mind not only the subject matter but also the profile and expectations of the potential reader. Art is not there only to awake your emotions, it is supposed to make you, the reader interpret in your own way both the word and the accompanying illustration.
Also in this discipline Marta proves professional and knowledgeable. She uses all available forms of art, which defines her artistic identity and personality.
Her solid artistic background along with growing passion suggest that you will not be disappointed with her coming works of art. Let’s not be afraid of feeding our imagination, let’s get inspired by ordinary, everyday life.

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