Not only does she design objects, but she arranges entire scenes, creating a phantasmagoric world distinguished by its almost childlike sensibilities. It’s a world full of colour and surprising lines, childhood illustrations brought into real, three-dimensional space.
Mirecka (born 1986) graduated from the Faculty of Industrial Design of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. She was taught by Tomek Rygalik in his PG13 experimental course, where she soon found where her talents lay. She was also involved in a two-year Polish-Norwegian exchange programme centred around the issue of alternative methods of design. After graduating in Poland, she continued her studies at the Royal College of Art in London in the studio of Daniel Charny and Robert Feo.
In her works, Mirecka is often inspired by folk tradition, drawing from traditional forms, such as for the wooden spinning tops she designed for the Ethnographic Museum; she also takes inspiration from traditional materials and turns them into modern items like with the Rusałka (Rusalka) swing made out of braided wicker.
Picture display
standardowy [760 px]
Ola Mirecka, Lego Masters, 2020, photo: Cezary Piwowarski / TVN / promotional materials
However, it is not the folk influences that are the key to understanding Mirecka’s work. Most of her projects are addressed to the youngest generation. She creates for children, somehow herself remaining a child with an open mind, a sense of exploration and an uninhibited imagination. Her toys allow one to fly, jump and climb, stimulating the user to constantly move and seek adventure. Węże/Makarony (Snakes/Pasta) is a custom-made compact playground with a colourful dust cover designed to be used indoors. Guziko-Pętelki (Button-Loops) can be combined into any shape, and used as forts, houses, or simply as a comfortable place to sleep.
LAVA is a portable lemonade stand that encourages human interaction. Its construction, based on winding lines, evokes a dreamlike environment. Mirecka invites one to try some lemonade made with freshly squeezed fruit. A suitable bend in the table allows one to fit in a small cup as well as larger jugs. Red metal rods outline the shape of the bar, table, benches and ladders, creating an ‘uncontrolled experiment’ in the designers' own words. [thisispaper.com].
In Stonki, Mirecka again returns to the concept of three-dimensional illustration, as in LAVA. These sketch-like spatial formations may take the form of a lamp, stool or even a clock. The frame of the object is made of aluminium tubes connected by plastic connectors. The artists' handprint is imprinted onto the elements of various shapes and colours, adding a contrasting detail to the whole structure. These spontaneous, uncontrolled creations highlight the lightness of their forms, perhaps best showcasing what Mirecka is all about: a child’s imagination combined with the mind of an organized designer.
olamirecka.pl, studio: www.nejtakfarvel.com, Instagram: @olamirecka
Embeded gallery style
display gallery as slider
Selected awards and exhibitions:
- 2017 Water Exhibition during London Design Festival, London
- 2016 Pop up Kunst at the West Coast of Denmark, curated by Inge Tarpgaard -
- 2017 One Design Week, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- 2016 Kids Design Space workshop + exhibition, Wrocław
- 2014 Designblok, Build and Destroy, Prague
- 2014 Meet my Project, during Maison&Object, Paris
- 2013 Guest Designer at the Laboratory, Vienna Design Week
- 2013 World Food Festival, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- 2013 DMY, Polish Design Focus, Berlin
- 2013 WORKS, Milan2013 Dutch Design Week, Eidenhoven
- 2013 100% Design, London Design Week
- 2010 Childishness. Polish Design for Children
- 2010 Elle Deco International Design Awards
- 2009 Second place for the swing Rusałka at the New Folk Design Competition
- 2009 Łódź Design Festival
- 2009 First place in the Baby Vox competition for Guziko-pętelki
Author: Agata Morka, July 2014
Translated by: Alexander Sikorski, July 2014