Influenced by the structure, function, and descriptive powers of Greek and Norse mythology, Mara weaves a new narrative of how the world came to be. In an effort to refrain from human-centred stories and anthropomorphism, she has brought trees and landscapes from being the scenery in the background, to the foreground and onto the main stage.
Bedtime stories for the children that got lost in the woods
Like a 21st century bard, she uses language to create her own mythology. Language becomes an object and sculptures and words intertwine into a single existence that draws inspiration from the familiar but refers to a world beyond time and history. In the centre of it all, is the unambiguous realisation of nature’s sublimity and the absence of humankind. At the same time her sculptures blur the division between the realm of her stories and our reality.
Mara’s sculptures bear witness to her attention to detail and are notable for their relation to their original counterparts. By appropriating nature’s materials and forms, she tries to grasp the image of this other world and bring it to life for us to see. Despite them being rooted in our reality, her sculptures always refer to her mythic world, untouched by human hands.
Mara Varelaki
Mara Varelaki (1994) currently lives and works in Eindhoven, while studying Philosophy of Humanity and Culture (MA) in Tilburg University.
Visit the exhibition
Exhibition ‘Bedtime stories for the children that got lost in the woods’ is on show until Sunday April 18 and can be visited by appointment every Thursday from 11 am-5pm. Send an email to visit@tac.nu to make an appointment.
