The installation [talismans] by Lucia Gandelová develops this year’s theme of [TypospoT], layers, through the motif of interpersonal relationships. Here, layers function not only as a formal principle, but primarily as a way of remembering the people we encounter within ourselves.

[talismans] works with the idea that identity is not fixed or closed, but rather formed through the layering of experiences and relationships. Every person we allow close to us leaves a certain layer behind. Some fade over time, others remain present for much longer. In this sense, we are layered not only by others, but we also leave a layer on the people around us.

Formally, the exhibition builds on Lucia’s approach to work, which rejects excessive control and instead searches for shortcuts. She works with an analogue scanning technique that introduces unpredictability into the process and pushes the outcome beyond  a precisely defined intention. The process becomes a game with its own rules, where the final form 
 emerges from the tension between intention and chance.

The visual layer of the installation consists of three posters featuring the initials of people who have left a significant mark on Lucia’s life. These characters are created from pieces of clothing connected to them. Here, clothing functions as a talisman, a physical fragment of a relationship translated into the visual language of typography. Lucia works with positive and negative space, as well as the relief and texture of three different garments. Their structure, depth and materiality partially determine the character of each letterform. The exhibition also explores the interdisciplinary relationship between graphic design and photography.

Lucia Gandelová is a graphic designer, book server, life reviewer and a barbie. She likes to refer to her practice as being a visual cleaner. In her work, she’s focused on finding the balance between space, content, and form, resulting in typographic solutions most of the time. She used to draw but doesn’t do that anymore. She likes to play with her clothes and make videos about it, followed up by stories from everyday life, which entertain her, and seem to entertain her instagram followers just as much.

This project was supported by Staromestské kultúrne centrá, BITTNER print, Typocon.

Exhibiting artist:
Lucia Gandelová
@gandeluca

Event photos:
Peter Pozník