There is something so poetic about the restoration of an object that has been destroyed. A beauty in the scars, a rejuvenation in the renewal. It is this juxtaposition that Asheville, NC artist Nava Lubelski seeks to explore in her work. Seeking to “explore the contradictions between the impulse to destroy and the compulsion to mend,” she first destroys in order to resurrect.
Her initial damages to the surface, through ripping, cutting, spilling of paint/stain are then painstakingly “repaired” by hand-stitching embroidery over and around the holes.
Just as when people’s souls, minds, bodies are wounded, the healing process is slow and not always complete, so are the stitched “repairs” in Nava’s work. The initial destruction has been stopped, but the material can never fully be restored. What she leaves us with instead, is a new surface, still showing signs of mutilation yet renewed.
To see more of Nava Lubelski’s work, please visit her website. She is currently showing in NYC, Asheville, Shelbourne, VT and Sydney, Australia.
Featured image is A Story About Frogs, thread on stained muslin, 26×20. All images are via the artist’s website.
Susan
November 2, 2011 at 9:39 AMLove it – thanks for sharing!
Lesley
November 2, 2011 at 10:52 AMGlad you stopped by, Susan! And congrats on your POEMS publishing deal! When I did corporate/healthcare art consultancy, we used work from POEMS quite a bit. Your style fits in perfectly with their aesthetic!
restlesssabbath
November 3, 2011 at 12:05 AMI really love these pieces! Beautiful and intricate.
Lesley
November 3, 2011 at 8:52 AMThanks for stopping by! Aren’t they wonderful? I’m sure they are even more intriguing in person, where you can really see all the threadwork.
Cheers!
Lesley
Pattern Pulp - Friday Quick Links!
November 4, 2011 at 3:20 PM[…] 12. Nava Lubelski creates artwork through the process of destruction and restoration via Artsy Forager […]
Autumn on the West Coast | Restless Sabbath
November 6, 2011 at 8:54 PM[…] design of decaying leaves. Like Nava Lubelski‘s artwork featured by the Artsy Forager’s blogpost, I love the intricacy, the filigree, of these designs. I’ve seen a similar thing done by one […]
iWebXpert
April 3, 2013 at 11:14 PMWow. They look stunning. I really like it. Thanks for sharing.