Tierra non grata
Merina, the old factory in Trenčín, Slovakia, was once an iconic building that produced
textiles for customers worldwide. It employed thousands of people until it was demolished
by developers and replaced with a small office building, AUDOV. As part of my research,
I entered the area where the factory once stood, under the supervision of AUDOV workers.
During my visit, the designer gave me a gift, small pieces of leftover fabric from the factory.
I decided to use these fabrics to create an installation at Nová Vlna, a gallery located within
the Merina complex. During my stay in the Department of Painting, I combined my paintings
with the fabric pieces to form a spatial installation. The aim was clear: to give new meaning
to these textiles, reflecting on the demolished factory and the traumatized employees who
are left uncertain about their future.
*The title Tierra non grata can be translated into English as “Unwanted Earth.” The word tierra is intentionally kept in Spanish, with the added “i” in the title being a deliberate choice.
Installation, Merina fabrics, canvases.
Nová vlna, Trenčín, Slovakia, 2022
Installation, Merina fabrics, needle, thread, tailor’s chalk
Gallery 3, KABK, Den Haag, The Netherlands, 2025
MEASURING THE SPACE
