The Cycle of Life

About:

Cycle of Life is an exhibition culminating the collaboration of two artists – creative director and set designer Joanna Borkowska and the SALAK studio brand, for which Alicja Korbut is responsible. The exhibition invites viewers on a journey that aims to take us through four key stages of life. Its goal is encouraging the audience to reflect on the passing of time. Sculptures created from furniture and recycled materials from the SALAK studio become an expression of art.

1 / Birth – Alicja will present an abstract image of the materials from which furniture is made, thus talking about the genesis of the product.

2/ Life – shows the product in its intended form.

3/ Death – in this phase, creators subject products to various types of abstract deformations, thus showing the transience and changeability of life.

4/ Rebirth – Joanna will present a new abstract vision of SALAK brand products based on waste from recycled materials generated during regular production.

The Cycle of Life is an exhibition of sculptures whose message is to delve into the journey of existence through four distinct stages: birth, life, death and rebirth. Each of them is analyzed in detail through the prism of artistic expression, encouraging viewers to contemplate the essence of life itself and to notice changes resulting from its individual stages.

The exhibition begins with Birth, where the rawness of the materials takes center stage. We focus our attention here on presenting original, unprocessed forms using elementary media and referring to the yet unpolished potential. Visitors will encounter sculptures and installations that celebrate the beauty of beginnings. The first stage is made of raw elements that are used every day in the SALAK studio to create furniture.

Entering the Life stage, the exhibition becomes a showcase of the utility product itself. This stage is the transformation of abstract, raw installations from the first stage of the exhibition into a finished product.

As visitors move into the Death phase, they are faced with a stark but mesmerizing image of impermanence and transformation. Here, works of art undergo a process of abstraction and deformation, symbolizing the dissolution of form and self. Through bold experiments and unconventional techniques, we challenge viewers to confront their fears and ideas about mortality.

Finally, Rebirth is a poignant conclusion to a cycle in which discarded materials are recovered and reused in new works of art. This stage celebrates the resilience of life, showing that even in the face of decay and destruction, there is the potential for renewal and regeneration.

The Cycle of Life exhibition is intended to encourage reflection and stop for a moment in the fast-paced world, which, in our opinion, can have a healing effect on both the soul and body.

The exhibition is the result of a SALAK x JoannBorko collaboration.