On The Way
To Wonder

It is a body of work, comprising a series of soft sculptures, abstract drawings, and a performance titled The Ritual of Embrace. Supported by AFK in 2024, it was showcased at the Bookstore Foundation, Pleinkamer, and Big Art Slotervaar in Amsterdam. This installation invites the audience to step into an environment where the journey to Wonder becomes tangible. Within this space, visitors are encouraged to traverse both earthly and cosmic realms.

The photos are from the solo exhibition at Bookstore Foundation, Amsterdam, September 2024

The abstract drawings are characterised by a sense of spaciousness, intricate forms, and vibrant, complex colour combinations. Complementing them are soft sculptures made from pastel pink velour and white plush. These furry forms resonate with the abstract nature of the drawings while also bringing a tactile sense of groundedness. Some of the sculptures hang on the walls, creating a dynamic interplay with the surrounding works on paper.

Drawings are made through meditative, intuitive processes. Without pre-sketches or planning, we let each drawing unfold from a state of relaxed focus and openness. Inspired by nature, energy systems, and the micro/macro cosmos, these works often appear as abstract organic forms or energetic landscapes. The act of drawing is itself a form of inner research — an embodied, spiritual practice.

Soft sculptures are made collaboratively during ritualistic sessions in our studio, involving movement, voicing, and meditation in stillness. Here we tune into a full embodied presence together and allow the creative stream to move through us in a wordless dialogue. This dialogue includes aspects of deep listening and letting go of control. In this creative ritual, one of us initiates the cut on fabric and the other responds to it. Responding to each other’s cut line continues till the shape is complete. For us, it feels like something is being born and we are just welcoming it.

The soft sculptures are made from organic textiles (cotton, hemp) and natural fillings (cherry pits, millet, buckwheat husks).

We are fascinated by creating from a state of relaxed focus and openness. We reach this state through diverse meditation practices such as singing mantras, interactions with nature, body movement, voicing, breathing, and the regular practice of drawing.

“In the work of Dorota and Yulia, I was particularly struck by the almost hypnotic dynamics. There’s a sense of fluffy coziness on one hand and sharp detailing on the other. I felt invited by comfort and embrace, wanting to lean against the work and hold it. At the same time, I was mesmerized by the undulating (feminine) shapes, lines, and colors where you could discover so much. From graceful organic fields to urban structures for humanity and society. My imagination was stimulated, leading me into a tingling haze...” -Rob

It is within this environment that The Ritual of Embrace performance unfolded — offering a moment of shared experience and embodied reflection.