Márta Kanics

Conscious colours

• Márta's work plays with the therapeutic benefits of colour
• She experiments with phosphorescent, uv-reagent and reflective surfaces
• She is open to the use of innovative techniques

The uniqueness of Márta Kanics' work lies primarily in the conscious use of colour and the mixing of traditional techniques with innovative solutions. She uses phosphorescent, uv reagent and reflective paints, ribbons, steel wires and different colours to make her unusual creations. Her interest in innovative textiles and the renaissance of handicraft techniques are a constant source of inspiration for Márta. In parallel to her continuous study of new materials and traditional technologies, she also researches colour theory. In her opinion, colours have a therapeutic effect, and one of her main goals is to develop people's colour awareness through workshops in the future.

Interview

©Orsolya Vamos

©Orsolya Vamos

How do tradition and innovation combine in your work?

I reinterpret traditional techniques (like ikat weaving, picked on the color side pattern, needle collected pattern or Turkish knot pattern) and combine them with innovative techniques like needle felting, digital prints and special materials. I also often reduce the traditional patterns to a minimalist element.

Can you give us examples?

Sometimes it’s just a rhythm of stripes or a pattern of dots, maybe in the form of a 3D pattern texture on a woven surface. In my Cheer up collection, I combined traditional dyed wool and wool felt with the help of a specially designed needle – this innovative technique creates a material with two differents color on its two sides.

What do you think makes an object really good?

An object is good if it communicates, if it creates emotion and at the same time is functional – that is, if an object affects the observer or user and arouses his desire to possess it, like falling in love at first sight. I love when an object is captivating, inspiring and timeless.

What direction do you want to develop into, what else would you like to achieve?

I want to delve even deeper into different traditional techniques and want to experiment with materials and different surface effects. Colors play an important role in my life, I would love to work more with alternative color therapy.

Márta Kanics is a master artisan: she began her career in 2007 and she started teaching in 2008

Works

©Márta Kanics

©Márta Kanics

©Márta Kanics

©Márta Kanics

Where