ATIKA ART SPACE: OCTOBER

Interview by Veronika

New month, new art! This month, we are excited to present colour and texture to offset this gloomy weather coming along. Keep reading for the full interview with the artist, and don’t forget to drop by to see her art in-person in our store just off Brick Lane.

Kenoly Mbele Leprince is a London-based textile artist of Congolese heritage, specialising in weave. Her Practise explores identity, connection and storytelling through colour, texture and complex patterns. ‘Put Your Arms Around Me’ explores comfort, togetherness and belonging through a large-scale woven piece imagined as an embrace, creating a sense of warmth and connection whether shared with loved ones or experienced alone.

I: What is your current work about?

‘Put Your Arms Around Me’ explores comfort, connection and togetherness through weaving. I wanted to create a piece that feels like an embrace; something that makes you think about being close to the people you love and the comfort of sharing a moment together. The work also reflects how textiles can create a sense of belonging and hold emotional memories.

I: What feelings do you aim to evoke in viewers?

I want viewers to feel warm, comforted and connected. The large-scale woven piece is imagined almost like a blanket you would wrap yourself in while sitting on the sofa with your loved ones, watching your favourite film and snuggling together. I also want it to offer comfort when you are alone. Creating a feeling that you are not completely alone because the piece itself becomes something you can lean into and feel surrounded by.

I: Is there a specific detail you hope viewers spend time with?

I would love viewers to take time to notice the different woven patterns I have created throughout the piece. There are also loops within the weaving that add another layer of texture and encourage viewers to look more closely at how the piece has been constructed.

I: What does your creative process look like?

My process is rooted in slow craft. I enjoy taking my time with weaving and allowing the piece to develop gradually. I experiment with different patterns, textures and ways of manipulating the materials, working with my hands and responding to what is happening on the loom. The process is quite meditative for me, and I enjoy allowing the making to unfold rather than rushing towards the final outcome.

I: How do you decide when a piece is “finished”?

I decide a piece is finished when I feel I have explored all the patterns and ideas I wanted to investigate. If I still feel there are patterns, textures or possibilities that I haven't explored, I continue working on it. For me, finishing a piece is about feeling that I have fully explored what the work wanted to become.

Make sure to visit ATIKA London before the end of October to see Kenoly’s art in-person. If you’d like to apply with your own art for next month, please click here.