Barbara Mydlak is a contemporary Polish artist, born in 1987 in Biłgoraj (Poland), currently based in Ghent, Belgium. She studied archaeology at the Faculty of History of the University of Warsaw. In 2017 she graduated with honours from the Faculty of Visual Arts at the Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland. Graduated with Interdisciplinary Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Painting and Drawing, University of Fine Arts in Poznan. From 2019 to 2021 she was a lecturer at the Faculty of Design, Academy of Fine Arts in Szczecin. She has lectured and held workshops at China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou, Tainan National University of The Arts (TNNUA) and others. In September 2022, she opened her art studio in Ghent, as one of the artists selected for the Nucleo Kunstenaars Ateliers programme. She works in a variety of fields and media, including natural fibers, handmade paper, interdisciplinary installation, experimental filmmaking, drawing or stage design.

Barbara Mydlak focuses on finding new ways of expression and experimental processes. Her art is strongly connected to nature and regional traditions. She grew up surrounded with forests and rivers of south-eastern Poland, a region where many traditions and local rituals are still cultivated. This has greatly influenced and inspired her work. She is interested in the moments of birth, death and rebirth, which all form the rhythm of nature. The ephemeral aspect of the process of decaying matter, infinite repetition of the same cycle, changes related to periodic renewal are the subjects she explores. Mydlak's works are related to her autobiographical stories, the passage of time, the processes of forgetting specific memories and traumas, as well as rituals, mostly related to illness, death and the process of dying. They are often intended to provoke discussion about loss and the influence of cultural context on the perception of death. Her installations have an ephemeral element, they are usually made of perishable, delicate and vulnerable to destruction materials that can be transformed and reused. Her objects change over time under the influence of outside conditions and substances used in the process of creation.
Through art, she aims to create her own healing rituals.

Developing a kind of 'survival art', she places great emphasis on the ability to create material from scratch, on her own, with the final artwork often including an information about the creation and processing of the materials. The organic waste, decaying plants, leftovers and rubbish that she finds and collects in certain places are transformed by her into new forms and gain new meanings. Mydlak combines different materials, media and techniques to create her installations. She tries to evoke memories through smells and tastes of objects or their sounds and through moving images. She expanded her knowledge during archaeological studies, especially in the field of bioarchaeology. Her work draws on her archaeological experience, where she interprets and explores spaces, talks to local people, conducts interviews and researches. For her, research is an ongoing performative process.

PORTFOLIO / with pleasure, I will send you my latest portfolio by e-mail

EDUCATION:

2017-2020
Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Fine Arts in Poznan, Interdisciplinary practice-led PhD Studies, Faculty of Painting and Drawing, Poland

2014-2017
The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Faculty of Visual Arts, Master of Arts, Lodz, Poland

2011-2014
The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Faculty of Visual Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Lodz, Poland

2008-2011
University of Warsaw, Faculty of History, Institute of Archaeology, Warsaw, Poland

2003-2007
Bernardo Morando Fine Arts State Secondary School in Zamosc, specialization: artistic woodcarving, Zamosc, Poland


CONFERENCES, LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, TEACHING EXPERIENCE (SELECTED):

UPCOMING:

'The New Crafts' International Symposium, Tsinghua University, Academy of Arts & Design, Beijing, China (September 2024) / speech, presentation

* * *

Sans Réserve round tables, 'The advent of the plant turn' panel, COAL PRIZE 2023, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, France (December 2023)

The book of extinction, COAL / Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, France (December 2023) / workshop

Leading the workshop on the creation of imaging narratives visualising sound, in collaboration with Yann Deval,
IHECS Institute of Higher Studies in Social Communication – Brussels School of Journalism, Belgium (March 2023) / workshop

Artistic workshops "Exercises from anger, exercises from love" for people with visual impairment and blindness
as part of a project "As far as the eye can see" organized by Karuzela Sztuki, cooperation with Piotr Strobel, Centre for Culture in Lublin, Poland (03-05.10.2022)

Young to Young 2020 International Collaborative Curriculum, "A healing Illusion - your own safe place" project - leading a series of lectures, workshops, tutorials;
participating in seminars; final exhibition, School of Design & Innovation, China Academy of Art (CAA), Hangzhou, China (15.06-20.07.2020)

Lecturer, Textile Design Studio, Faculty of Design, Art Academy of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland (from October 2019 - October 2021)

International Conference The New Crafts International Emerging Artists Group Exhibition & Symposium "The warp and weft’s boundary and future",
Tsinghua University, Academy of Arts & Design, Beijing, China (04.01.2020) / speech, presentation

"Seminar on the Splendid Languages of Paper", Zhejiang Art Museum (ZAM), Hangzhou, China (09.08.2019) / speech, presentation

Tainan National University of The Arts (TNNUA), Department of Material Arts and Design, Tainan, Taiwan R.O.C. (September 2018) / workshops, lectures

International Conference "2018 Textile Design & Product Development Workshop", ZHI ZHI REN STUDIO, Kaohsiung, Taiwan R.O.C. (July 2018) / workshops, lecture

PIER-2 ART CENTER, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (July - September 2018) / workshops, artist talks

Taimei Educational Foundation, Pingdung County, Pingdung, Taiwan R.O.C. (August 2018) / workshop


ART RESIDENCIES:

Résidence XR-Creative, Pôle Image Magelis, École nationale du jeu et des médias interactifs numériques du Cnam / CNAM-ENJMIN, Angoulême, France (2024)
B#Side War vol. 6 / 2020, IoDeposito, Venezia Giulia, Gorizia, Oslavia, Italy (2020)
Pier-2 ART CENTER, Kaohsiung, Taiwan R.O.C. (2018)
Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój, Poland / Wro Art Center and ESK Wroclaw Residency Programme (2016)


INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS:

2024
Two memories of one mother's death, Jesuit Gallery, Poznan, Poland

2023
I only count sunny hours, exhibition with Yann Deval, BLANCO, Ghent, Belgium
Wake, BLANCO, Ghent, Belgium

2021
Fiber Art Exhibition, exhibition with Ewa Latkowska-Żychska, White Art Space Gallery, Shanghai, China

2020
Hope, exhibition with Ewa Latkowska-Żychska and Han Chunyang, White Art Space Gallery, Shanghai, China
Gates, outdoor exhibition, organized by IoDeposito, Oslavia, Italy

2019
Essential with a Polish touch, exhibition with Ewa Latkowska-Żychska, White Art Space Gallery, Shanghai, China
OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, exhibition with 鄭安利 and 蔡寬銘, 182ArtSpace Gallery, Tainan City, Taiwan R.O.C.

2018
TAKE AWAY, Pier-2 ART CENTER, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan R.O.C.
Mourning Diaries, Jak Gallery, Poznan, Poland

2017
Common Area, exhibition with Magdalena Soboń, P_art Gallery, Polish Institute in Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Polyphony, exhibition with Ewa Latkowska - Żychska and Magdalena Soboń, Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój, Poland

2016
Master and student, Tętno Art Gallery, exhibition with Magdalena Soboń, Wroclaw, Poland


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2024
UPCOMING:
'The New Crafts', The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Beijing, China (08.09-07.10.2024)

2023
National Book Art Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art in Torun, Poland (08.12.2023-28.01.2024)
Sans Réserve, COAL / Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, France (06.12.2023)
National Book Art Exhibition, Book Art Museum in Lodz, Poland (27.10-24.11.2023)
Grond-stof, DACCA Loft Cultuurcentrum, Temse, Belgium (07.10-29.10.2023)
National Book Art Exhibition, Podbrzezie Gallery, Cracow, Poland (12-26.01.2023)

2022
National Book Art Exhibition, Neon Gallery and Sztuka na miejscu Gallery, Wroclaw, Poland (04.11-14.11.2022)
Art Book Triennial, Východočeská galerie v Pardubicích, Padrubice, Czech Republic (12.08-23.10. 2022)
Art Book Triennial, Book Art Museum, Lodz, Poland (01.07-01.08.2022)
International Paper Art Biennial 2022, Den Breughel Cultural Center, Haacht, Belgium (25.03-03.04.2022)

2021
International Biennial PAPER FIBER ART 2021/22, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute Gallery, Caotun, Taiwan R.O.C (12.11.2021-10.04.2022)
2021 Shanghai International Paper Art Biennale, Fengxian Museum, Shanghai, China (25.09-25.11.2021)
Triennale Umenia Knihy / Artist's Book Triennial Martin, Turiec Gallery, Martin, Slovakia (21.10.2021-09.02.2022)
BFC Art Festival, Shanghai, China (26.03-12.04.2021)
11th "From Lausanne to Beijing" International Fiber Art Biennale Symbiosis and Coexistence, Beijing, China (online exhibition 16.01-16.02.2021)
“Il Limes e l’invasione”, EContemporary Gallery, collaboration with Trieste Film Festival, Trieste, Italy (15.01-03.02.2021)

2019
The New Crafts International Emerging Artists Group Exhibition, Art Gallery of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (22.12.2019–08.01.2020)
5th International Triennial Textile Art of Today, Muzeum Historyczne w Bielsku-Białej, Stara Fabryka, Bielsko-Biała, Poland (15.11-31.12.2019)
International Creative Arts 2019 Exhibition, Fukuoka Exchange Gallery, 56th Fukuoka Citizen’s Arts Festival, Fukuoka, Japan (26.10-29.10.2019)
16th International Triennial of Tapestry, Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland (05.10.2019-27.07.2020)
THE SPLENDID LANGUAGES OF PAPER: CONTEMPORARY ART ON CHINESE PAPERMAKING CULTURE, Beijing 81 Art Museum, Beijing, China (01.10–13.10.2019)
International Paper Art Biennale "Feasts on Paper", Fengxian Museum, Shanghai, China (10.09-10.11.2019)
2nd Biennial of Textile Art, Main Exhibition, National Museum in Poznan, Poznan, Poland (27.08-10.10.2019)
5th International Triennial Textile Art of Today, Pesti Vigadó Gallery, Budapest, Hungary (24.08-22.09.2019)
THE SPLENDID LANGUAGES OF PAPER: CONTEMPORARY ART ON CHINESE PAPERMAKING CULTURE, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China (09.08-19.09.2019)
Correlations, Art Week, Poznan, Poland (30.05-06.06.2019)
5th International Triennial Textile Art of Today, Gallery Moravian Museum, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic (18.04-23.06.2019)
5th International Triennial Textile Art of Today, Tatra Gallery in Poprad, Slovak Republic (01.02-16.03.2019)

2018
10th International Fiberart Biennale "From Lausanne to Beijing", Tsinghua University Beijing Art Museum, Beijing, China (15.10-15.11.2018)
Horizon, Galerie Pierre, Taichung, Taiwan R.O.C. (06.10-01.12.2018)
5th International Triennial Textile Art of Today, Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava, Slovak Republic (08.09-11.11.2018)
Paper Art from the Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój Collection, New Gallery of Paper Art, Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój, Poland (28.07-28.12.2018)
6th Textile Art Triennale of Szombathely, Savaria Museum, Szombathely, Hungary (29.06-10.2018)
"Picture by Picture", open space exhibition, Jastrowo, Poland (24.06-08.07.2018)
The 6th Riga International Textile and Fibre Art Triennial Tradition & Innovation, The Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia (06.06.2018-09.09.2018)
(NAD)RYSOWAĆ, International Exhibition of Student Drawing, The Wozownia Art Gallery, Torun, Poland (11.05-03.06.2018)
"Sztuka to kłamstwo, które pozwala uświadomić nam prawdę", Rektorat Gallery, University of Zielona Gora, Poland (11.05-29.05.2018)
Projekt Edukacja Artystyczna, nationwide competition of the best graduation projects of the Art Education Faculty, University of The Arts Poznan and ZAMEK Culture Centre, Poznan, Poland (14.02-23.02.2018)
Prime Time 2017, The best graduation projects of The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland (01.02.2018–04.03.2018)

2017
1st Textile Art Biennial, Main Exhibition, Jak Gallery, Poznan, Poland (27.10.2017–08.12.2018)
The International Paper Fiber Art Biennale 2017/2018, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, Caotun, Taiwan R.O.C. (06.10.2017–03.2018)
2nd International Textile Biennial 2017, Gemeenschapscentrum Den Breughel, Haacht, Belgium (04.03-12.03.2017)
Made by Hand, Gallery of Contemporary Art, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz, Poland (23.02-10.03.2017)
Art Confrontations, Test Gallery, Mazovian Culture Institute, Warsaw, Poland (25.01–23.02.2017)

2016
Textile Art of Today, Gallery Moravian Museum, Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic (24.11.2016–15.01.2017)
9th International Fiberart Biennale "From Lausanne to Beijing", Guan Shan Yue Art Museum, Shenzhen, China (10.09-26.09.2016)
Rómer Flóris Művészeti és Történeti Múzeum, GYŐR, Hungary (17.09–16.10.2016)
9. International Textile Biennial of Linen Textile "Z Krosna do Krosna", BWA Gallery, Krosno, Poland (20.08–16.09.2016)
Tangent Gallery / Hastings St. Ballroom Milwaukee St., Detroit, USA (05.08–06.08.2016)
18. výstava textilnej miniatúry Zoči voči, Galéria Umelka, Bratislava, Slovakia (18.05-12.06.2016)
Gallery of Photography ŁTF name of Eugeniusz Haneman, Lodz, Poland (14.05–03.06.2016)
Textile Art of Today, Historical Museum, Bielsko-Biala, Poland (11.05-08.2016)
International Biennial of Miniature Arts, Mansarda Gallery, Timisoara, Romania (25.04–20.05.2016)
Around DRAWINGS, Gallery of Contemporary Art Academy of Fine Arts, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz, Poland (20.03-16.04.2016)
SET DESIGN, Gallery of Contemporary Art Academy of Fine Arts, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz, Poland (01.03-18.03.2016)
Textile Art of Today, Tatra Gallery, Poprad, Slovak Republic (12.02-10.04.2016)
New Space, Lodz Philharmonic, Lodz, Poland (12.02-06.04.2016)
18th Miniatures International Exhibition, ULS, Akademija Likovnih Umjetnosti Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (11.01-16.01.2016)

2015
Textile Art of Today, Slovak National Museum, Bratislava, Slovak Republic (17.09–13.12.2015)
Japan Concept, Kobro Gallery, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz, Poland (10.2015)
"Wymiary Scenografii", Polish Centre of Scenography, Silesian Museum, Katowice, Poland (11.09–27.09.2015)
GHETTO XXI, Lodz, Poland (18.08–30.09.2015)
18th Miniatures International Exhibition, ULS, Novi Dvori, Croatia (12.06–28.06.2015)
In Blanco Gallery, Lodz, Poland (12.06-15.08.2015)

2014
Humanoid II, PTAPTY GALLERY, Poznan, Poland (09.05–27.05.2014)
Humanoid, Konduktorownia Gallery of Contemporary Art, Czestochowa, Poland (07.02–21.02.2014)
Narrations, Kobro Gallery, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz, Poland (10.04-17.04.2014)

2013
Se – ma - for Stop Motion Animation Museum, Lodz, Poland (09.10.2013–28.10.2013)


WORKS IN COLLECTIONS:

Zhejiang Art Museum (ZAM), Hangzhou, China
Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki-Zdrój, Poland
J.P. Art Center, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan R.O.C.
White Art Space Gallery, Shanghai, China
IoDeposito/NGO Italy
Private collections in Poland, France, Belgium, Italy, China, USA, Taiwan R.O.C., Romania


SELECTED WORK PUBLICATIONS/CATALOGUES:

POWIDOKI. Sploty, eic. M. Ostajewska, no. 4, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz 2020, ISSN: 2657-652X
Pier-2 Artist in Residence: 2018, Pier2Art Center, Kaohsiung City 2019, ISBN: 978-986-5416-10-2
16th International Triennial of Tapestry, Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz, Lodz 2019, ISBN: 978-83-60146-73-6
Przekroje/wątki/raporty, 2nd Biennial of Artistic Textiles in Poznan, Poznan 2019, ISBN: 978-83-955422-1-3
This is paper, by Ewa Latkowska-Zychska, Lodz 2019, ISBN 978-83-66037-19-9
Textile Art of Today 2018, Bratislava 2018, ISBN: 987-80-973111-0-0
(NAD)RYSOWAĆ, The Nicolaus Copernicus University Press, Torun 2018, ISBN: 978-83-231-4100-6
Identity, Tradition&Innovation, LNMM Riga 2018, Latvia, ISBN: 978-9934-538-19-3
10th International Fiber Art Biennale "From Lausanne to Beijing", China Architecture&Building Press, October 2018, Beijing, ISBN: 978-7-112-22746-4
ECO-sublime, Biennial International Paper Fibre Art 2017/18, Taiwan Ministry of Culture, National Craft Research and Development Institute, Caotun, December 2017, ISBN: 978-986-05-5042-9
Prime Time 2017, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz 2018, ISBN: 978-83-65403-82-7
Faculty of Textile and Fashion Design, The Strzemiński Academy of Art, Lodz 2018, ISBN: 978-83-65403-73-5
Polyphony, Latkowska | Soboń | Mydlak, The Museum of Papermaking in Duszniki – Zdrój 2017, ISBN 978-83-60990-31-5
Common area, P_art Gallery, text by Magdalena Soboń, 2017
Art Confrontations, The Mazovian Culture Institute, Warsaw 2016, ISBN 978-83-63427-98-6
Transversalidades 2016 – fotografia sem fronteiras, Guarda, Portugal, ISBN 978-989-8676-11-5
CINEWOMEN magazine / women's cinema and performing arts, experimental cinema / I NA NNA, interview with Barbara Mydlak, 2015
TVP KULTURA, laureates of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award, reportage, 2015
Percieve Art, 18th Miniatures International Exhibition, ULS, text by Sonja Švec Španjol, 2015 TVP KULTURA, laureates of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award, reportage, 2015
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblat International Magazine, Volume 42, No. 3, Verlag des Römisch - Germanischen Zentralmuseums, Mainz 2013, ISSN 0342-734X
Archeological Reports, IAIE PAN, Cracow 2014, Poland, PLISSN 0081-3834
"Location Guide" Catalogue, Warsaw 2013, Poland, ISBN: 978 – 83- 63427-37-5
After Images/visual essays, Cage on the head / cooperation with Grzegorz Małecki, Lodz Filmschool 2013, ISBN: 978 83 87870


SELECTED FILM FESTIVALS:

XXX FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL CINEMA D'ANIMAZIONE E DEL FUMETTO - RIMINI, Italy
ST. PETERSBURG INETRNATIONAL FESTIVAL of Debut and Student Films Beginning, Russia
The Anima - Sao - International Animation Festival in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016 OUT TO SEE Festival, Animation Nights New York "April Animation", New York, USA
7th INTERNATIONAL PARIS ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL CROQ’ ANIME, PARIS, France
5th FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DEL CORTOMETRAJE FIC, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
9° FESTIVAL DE CORTOMETRAJES “RELATOS CORTOS”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
XXI MUESTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CORTOMETRAJE IXTENCO MEXICO, Mexico
Macedonian International Animation Festival Animax Skopje Fest, Macedonia
INTERNATIONAL OPUZEN FILM FESTIVAL IN CROATIA, Zagreb, Croatia
Anim!Arte International Student Animation Festival of Brazil, Brazil
STOPTRIK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Maribor, Slovenia
15th POLISH FILM FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
Inetrnational Film Festival EUROSHORTS, Gdansk, Poland
14th Aakruti International Film Festival, Mumbai, India
International Se-ma-for Film Festival, Lodz, Poland
XIX Animation Festival OFAFA in Cracow, Poland
6th SOLANIN FILM FESTIVAL, Nowa Sol, Poland
Festival of Polish Animations O!PLA, Poland
Viewster Online Film Festival, Zurich, Switzerland
Southeastern Film Festival, Nashville, USA
Student Art Film Festival, Florida, USA
Springfield International LGBT Festival, USA
Quarzazate International Film Festival, Marocco
A long week of SHORT FILMS FESTIVAL, Shanghai, China


SET DESIGN / COSTUME DESIGN / ANIMATION:

Influence, dir. Łukasz Barczyk, dop. Karina Kleszczewska / prod. Studio Filmowe Kadr (decoration elements)
Music video 'Chingaling, chingaling', music by Daddy’s Cash & John Lee Hooker Jr. (costume design)
Mother Earth, dir. Piotr Złotorowicz, dop. Nicolas Villegas Hernandez / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (costumes II)
Scanonization, dir. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Outside Song, dir. Przemysław Brynkiewicz / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (costume design)
Door, dir. Kamil Krukowski, dop. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Splot, dir. Kamil Krukowski, dop. Paweł Jóźwicki / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design and costume design)
Hawk’s eye, dir. Tomasz Sajewski / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
The Bus, dir. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Marzanna, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Jan Grobliński (costume design)
The Visit, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design and costume design)
Tomorrow, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design and costume design)
Television Theatre Passion dir. Aleksandra Maciejczyk, dop. Jakub Stolecki / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Workshops 'Od Faktu do Fikcji' / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design and costume design)
After Tomorrow, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design and costume design)
ROBERT KUTA, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Michał Modlinger / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodzl (animation)
Bedside, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Franklin Henriksen / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (dir. assistant, costume design)
Scherlock in Filmschool, dir. Jan Grobliński / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Music video 'Help Yourself', Cute Mess, dir. Aleksandra Maciejczyk, dop. Krystian Stępień (set design)
Mira, dir. Mikołaj Szczęsny, dop. Michał Modlinger / prod. Polish National Film School in Lodz (set design)
Ciele, theatrical performance, dir. Katarzyna Lesisz (stage design)


portrait photography by Yuri Andries