Where sculpture meets traditional craft
- Alida’s first exhibit was inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five novel
- She gained a deep understanding of letterpress at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica and New North Press
- Her first monograph was published in 2023
Alida Kuzemczak-Sayer describes her art as the result of bringing a sculptor’s mindset to traditional crafts such as letterpress printing. She began her artistic training with a degree in visual communication, followed by a master’s degree in sculpture. Living in Norfolk, her inspirations include the region’s medieval churches’ stained glass windows, whose forms and narratives have been reconfigured throughout history. "The notion of reconfiguration parallels my creative process. I once made printing blocks by innovating on traditional ones. It felt like creating my own language," explains Alida. Using natural paper, inks, pigments, and techniques related to the written or printed word, her sculptures explore distilling the complex world into objects, in search of meaning, albeit briefly. "Starting from book-sized, and growing to body-sized, my next phase is to expand these works to enveloping installations," says Alida, looking to the future.
Interview
- What inspires your art?
- Distinct experiences influence my art. In South Korea, I devised ways to communicate in an unfamiliar language, coinciding with a shift in my works from using direct word references to a more evocative approach. The surroundings in Venice led me to incorporate wetness and salt in my creations. The pandemic and motherhood made me more stationary and my art became more introspective.
- Can you describe your creative process?
- I often use printing or painting to make impressions on paper, tear the marked sheets while preserving their sequence, and intuitively drape them on top of each other. The piece grows section by section until it finds its shape. Only then do I see my creation. This sense of mystery is crucial, as it tells me how one might feel when they first encounter my work.
- What techniques do you use?
- I employ a blend of learned and self-taught techniques including letterpress, calligraphy, frottage, paper-tearing – which makes me feel more connected to my material – and paper construction, such as wrapping threads for binding. I experiment with ink applications so that each print is unique. I may incorporate natural dyes and stitching in future works.
- Who is a key influence on you as a sculptor?
- I admire the ethereal sculptures of Karla Black, who uses lightweight materials like powders and foils to challenge the idea of what might be considered sculpture. I use paper because it is familiar and accessible. I am fascinated by layering sheets and how paper allows for endless possibilities for mark-making.
Alida Kuzemczak-Sayer is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2009
Where
Alida Kuzemczak-Sayer
