Residency of Olga Grybowicz, hosted by Bella Skyway Festival in partnership with Blik Blik & Fjord Oslo
@Julia Marszewska
From September 2023 to August 2024, visual artist Olga Grybowicz implemented the project Light and Mirror in Movement in collaboration with three festivals: Bella Skyway Festival in Poland, Blik Blik in the Czech Republic and Fjord Oslo in Norway. The EFFEA Artist created a unique art installation that evolved throughout the project. After further refinement, it was showcased at Blik Blik on 22 and 23 March 2024 and at the EFFEA Leading Festival, Bella Skyway Festival, from 20 to 24 August 2024.
@Karolina Osińska
Olga Grybowicz spent late February through early March working on her installation at the Cultural Hub in Toruń, Poland. This modern arts centre, housed in a historic tenement building and managed by the Toruńska Agenda Kulturalna, served as her residency base. She then continued her residency in Pilsen from 19 to 24 March for the Blik Blik Festival, where her installation underwent its first public presentation.
The second phase of the project culminated at the Bella Skyway Festival, where Grybowicz's installation, The Stem, was exhibited in a park alongside four other light-based works. During the festival, Jiri Suchanek, Director and Curator of Blik Blik, visited Toruń and explored the Cultural Hub, providing an opportunity for artistic exchange and discussions about future collaborations. Additionally, Grybowicz’s portfolio was shared with the Norwegian festival partner for review, focusing on potential artistic development and future initiatives.
@Julia Marszewska
To conclude the residency, an online workshop was held with the Czech festival partner. It served as a moment to reflect on the project, share insights into the specificities of both festivals and discuss the challenges and successes encountered throughout the process.