Uisce A. Jakubczyk
E-mail: uisceart@gmail.com
Website: www.uisceart.com
On Behance: www.behance.net/uisceart
Facebook: uisceart
Instagram: @uiscesart
Agnieszka ‘Uisce’ Jakubczyk is a fibre artist and art teacher from Poland, living in Ireland since 2004.
Uisce graduated from People’s University in Turno, Poland, in 1992, with a qualification
of journeyman in artistic weaving. She abandoned weaving for a while and studied music performance and musicology. Several years after moving to Ireland Uisce started practicing the art of medieval style embroidery and later became a teacher of adult education classes and a variety of fibre arts workshops.
of journeyman in artistic weaving. She abandoned weaving for a while and studied music performance and musicology. Several years after moving to Ireland Uisce started practicing the art of medieval style embroidery and later became a teacher of adult education classes and a variety of fibre arts workshops.
Photo 2: Runaway, 2017. Material: various paper fibres and yarns, metallic threads.
Dimensions: 120 x 170cm.
Dimensions: 120 x 170cm.
Inspired by her students’ enthusiasm and creations Uisce started weaving again in 2015. Her woven pieces were selected for various group exhibitions, and she received her first award in 2016, which encouraged her to explore the art of weaving further.
In 2021 she wove her first commissioned piece: a large-scale work for Fingal County Council, under the Creative Ireland Programme – the Women of Fingal Tapestry, which is at present on display at Swords Castle.
Photo 3: Women of Fingal Tapestry and its Author in the Chapel of Swords Castle.
The Tapestry was created in March 2021; dimension: 180 x 120cm; materials: linen warp, weft: wool, linen, hemp, nettle, blend of goat and sheep wool; techniques: traditional weaving and artist’s own techniques.
Uisce was a participant of art residencies at Arteles Creative Center in Finland in summer 2017 and winter 2018. She attended the Ós Textile Residency at the Icelandic Textile Center, Blönduós, Iceland (December 2022/ January 2023).
Photo 4: Ruoho, 2017 (woven at Arteles Creative Center, Finland), dimensions: 25 x 25cm; materials: Phleum pratense grass, cotton boucle yarn, linen twine.
Uisce’s textile art has been exhibited in group exhibitions in Poland, Ireland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania and Taiwan. Her first solo exhibition took place at The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre in Naul, County Dublin, from August to October 2022.
Photo 5: Rhythms of the Road, 2018. Materials: 100% linen – linen warp, linen twine and yarns as weft; dimensions: 54.5cm x 54.5cm
Beside her art practice Uisce is an OPW seasonal guide at Brú na Bóinne UNESCO Heritage Site. She teaches fibre arts courses at Malahide Community School, North County Dublin.
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Artist’s Statement
My interest is on minimal woven art with a variety of materials and medieval styles, techniques and images in embroidery.
Currently my art work is focused on experimental paper art and minimalist woven art
with a variety of materials. I find inspiration in nature, following the lines of landscape, macro and micro structures, I observe and express the process of growth and decay, ethereal forms of water, mist, wind, rain, light... I like combining contrasting materials,
e.g. rough linen with metallic thread and wire. I also love foraging for unusual materials from nature and include them in my art pieces.
with a variety of materials. I find inspiration in nature, following the lines of landscape, macro and micro structures, I observe and express the process of growth and decay, ethereal forms of water, mist, wind, rain, light... I like combining contrasting materials,
e.g. rough linen with metallic thread and wire. I also love foraging for unusual materials from nature and include them in my art pieces.
Photo 6: Silencing Eden, 2019. Materials: linen yarns, paper yarn, metallic threads;
dimensions: 56 x 56 x 2.5cm
dimensions: 56 x 56 x 2.5cm
Photo 7: Silencing Eden - a detail
In my large woven art I aim to communicate through a language of visual symbols about issues touching the human being as an individual and as a part of society. My particular interest lies in undertaking ecological, social and mental health issues as subjects in art.
Photo 8: Morning Anxiety, 2017. Material: various up-cycled papers, paper yarns, lokta paper, some cotton and linen yarn; dimensions: 110 x 110 x 2.5cm
Photo 9: Morning Anxiety - a detail
Photo 10: The Author and the LightCatcher - an art installation on a tree in Finnish woods
