Karolina Slup

I watched Blue Velvet in my early twenties and remember staring at the screen long after the film ended. I saw Twin Peaks a few years later, and nothing was ever the same for me again. Lynch showed the 20-year-old, still so very naive and MTV-raised me, that films are not only entertainment but art, and that they don’t need to be fully understood if they are deeply felt. That magic, surrealism, and absurdity permeate our world, if only we choose to perceive them. That while there is horror, darkness, and sadness in life, there is also grand beauty, irrational laughter, and cleansing light. There is a Black Lodge, but also a White Lodge. One cannot exist without the other; they are inseparable—and that’s fine. Watching David’s visionary creations brought me as close as I’ve ever been to experiencing a dream while awake. ⚫️ I remember entering a metro station in Lisbon early on a January morning, years ago. I couldn’t figure out how to navigate it and grew anxious. Suddenly, I noticed a loud, ambient, ethereal music echoing from the speakers. I realised that the station was completely empty. A security guard in dark sunglasses with his back to me performed a slow, strange walk-dance toward the gates and back. A huge pigeon stood motionless on the other side, staring at me. The air from the trains below stirred the station air into twisting gusts, sending winter leaves and dust swirling through the space. I paused for a few long minutes, just absorbing the scene—it truly felt like something out of a dream. I think in the past I would have so easily missed this, but experiencing David’s art made me more sensitive to this special form of absurdity in life—to staying open to noticing the world in all its forms and fully embracing the magic, eccentricity, darkness, and light of the everyday, whether it belongs to this world or perhaps partly to some parallel dreamy dimension that flashes through. To see the world wild at heart and weird on top, as it is—both wonderful and strange. ⚫️ For the inspiration, for dreaming while awake, for the wisdom, the mystery, and all the deep feels—thank you, David🫡

2024 was particularly good to me, and it feels like it deserves a little mention. It was filled with exciting creative projects, growing @buoyantpress , visiting beautiful places, and – most importantly – connecting with people. 1,2: Birthday in the desert, on the Edge of the World 3,4: First public show @propositionstudios 5: Discovering sculpture parks in Tuscany in June (pictured @giardinodeitarocchi_official ) 6: Leading a workshop with @waen_space 7,8,9: A week in the Scottish islands for Waves of Change with @alanjamesburns and @antobarandmulltheatre 10: Polish mountains – healing body and soul, as always 11: Venice Biennale with @karolwysmyk & @tatianapancewicz 12: 10 years with my mate @actualperceptions 13: Working alongside the best @streetview.portraits 14: Representing @keziabarnett at @britishartfair 15,16: A spontaneous Greek adventure with old and new friends – witnessing and supporting @ene_ficiari olive oil production 17: Beautiful Rome with siblings @arkebuzer & @michassssss 18: Saying goodbye to an incredible studio with @propositionstudios (new one soon!) 2024 will be hard to beat, but 2025 already feels exciting. Have a good one, y’all!

We had such a great time at our last Open Studios and can’t wait to have you back! Proposition artist Karolina Slup (@marble_balloon aka @buoyantpress ) led a series of Suminagashi workshops 🖌️ Karolina’s creative practice seamlessly blends ancient marbling techniques with experimental bookbinding, delving into exploration of paper and textile possibilities. Through her meditative craft & art workshops, Karolina invites participants to immerse themselves in the soothing practice of Japanese marbling, fostering a connection to broader ecological dialogues. This age-old practice involves painting on water with natural inks, faithfully replicating the patterns found in the wilderness. Join us for more creative workshops and live performances at our Spring Open Studios in March! 📷 Photos by @crispian_blaize_photography Event Details: Proposition Camden 100a Chalk Farm Road NW1 8EH Saturday 23 March 2pm to 7pm We are right next to the Roundhouse and the nearest tube station is Chalk Farm. Step-free access to the building can be arranged and there is an accessible toilet. This is a free event. Tickets are available on Eventbrite - see link in bio.

exactly a year ago at the sonoran desert /home to Tohono O'odham people/ with giant saguaros 〰️ during the most beautiful golden hour, I was suddenly gifted with 𝘣𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘫 that landed straight at my feet with a 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘥. It was sticky, caramelised, and still warm from the sun; the most divine fruit I’ve ever eaten. . . . . #saguaro #sonorandesert #saguarofruit #bahidaj #desertgifts #goldenhour #arizona

A one-of-a-kind immersive exhibition that visualised how people think took place in Soho Square @theearthvision_org , during Frieze Week 2022. 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥 was created by brilliant artist @alanjamesburns and curated by @actualperceptions . I feel truly grateful to have been engaged in this unique, evolving project by producing graphic content for the exhibition, managing marketing, and overseeing the spatial design of the reflection room, including curating the book section. It’s been a while since I worked on an exhibition hands-on. This experience has reminded me how enjoyable putting up a collaborative show is, especially with such a lovely team ✨ 📸 @sotiris_gonis & @ania.mokrzycka . . . . #londonexhibition #londongallery #alanjamesburns #augmentedbodyalteredmind #visualisingbrainwaves #complementarycognition #brainsensingheadband #exhibitiondesign #friezelondon #immersiveart #immersiveexperience

the air so hot it becomes tangible ∿ the wind that carries spirits ∿ red painted faces [of ‘evil legend people’] turned to stone by the powerful coyote spirit ∿ valley of the gods ∿ wild horses the magical land of Utah, ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute and Ute tribes 📸 pentax k1000 . . . . #utah #brycecanyon #valleyofthegods #monumentvalley #hoodoos #paiuteland #navajo #holyland

A very special book of @streetview.portraits was published in the autumn of 2021. This incredible art publication features a beautiful poetic essay by Emily Berry @no1_emily alongside the dreamy @streetview.portraits imagery. The box includes 5 booklets, some loose pages, shiny Japanese paper, and a hidden debossing, fold-outs and inserts. Truly, a book to discover! I had the utmost pleasure of working with Jacqui Kenny on the book production, advising on and co-curating the content, editing images, brainstorming ideas, and putting together around 10 mock-up books over the last few years. It was such an enriching journey, and I love its outcome 💫
 Book design Mathias Clottu @studiomathiasclottu Photo credit Jonas Marguet @jonasmarguet Last copies available to purchase via @streetview.portraits website ✨

Pompeii, Naples . . . #pompeii #naples #neapol #pompeiiruins #ancientart #missingface #ancientitaly #marbleart #ancientsculpture #lostcity

◦ international earth day ◦ is everyday! . . . . #nationalearthday #everyday #iceland #jokulsarlon #glacier #icelandicglacier #naturerocks

• mamooth lakes, ca • . . . . #toastrewilding #mamoothlakes #treelimb #california #autumnincali #yosemite

Colours of the Icelandic land. A magical geothermal area near Husavik, pointed to us by local friends. I miss this rainbow-hued world. #TOASTrewilding @toast . . . #husavik #geothermal #iceland #rainbowearth #rewilding

missing Venice so much! 💔 . . . . . #italy #venice #venicebiennale #matchingset #accidentalbeauty #missingvenice #venetianstreets