Marlena Czak

The collection "Search for paradise", like the previous ones, is closely related to the topic of transgression and exotic imagination. This time the inspiration comes from admiration for Paul Gaugin, who in his prime time went on an expedition to look for inspiration in a distant country. From 1887, Gaugin's life turned into an uninterrupted escape from his self. He left civilized world. Searching for peace, unfamiliar habits and in primeval lands. Searching for paradise on earth, where instead of money reigns nature. Where people are full of instinctive feelings and naive imaginations, living with no pressure from a society of conformists.

He arrives to Tahiti – home of freedom and beauty. He has chosen Noa Noa as „The fragrant Land” perfect for work and contemplation. However it took a few months before Gaugin could admit the death of his own civilized, corrupt nature and the birth of savage, of the man whose intentions are pure. From this moment he could paint what he saw, without forcing his imagination. He could „lay on the canvas red, blue… all this gold, all this sunny joyfullness without a second thought”, he could orchestrate his planes and surfaces with the boldest lines and arabesques. „The old European routine” no longer hampered the artist’s search for the means to make his works more expressive. Excited about what he sees on the island, Gaugin looked around him and observed, drew a series of studies from nature, came back to the studio and paint not what he saw, but how he felt it: „I let my imagination to take over and paint with perfect freedom”. He painted not what he saw, but what he dreamt. He could say he „understood the earth of Tahiti, her aroma”. The atmosphere of Polynesian life almost at once transformed his perception and enriched his palette.

As a young child he lived in Peru where he absorbed the vivid colours of his tropical surroundings, the luxurious vegetation and the flamboyant costumes of the local inhabitants of Lima. These memories were to remain with him until the end of his days and helped power his exotic journey.

Just as Gaugin I am also searching for paradise. Inspired by his courage and impressed by landscapes from his paintings, I try to follow his example. I focus on the painting „Woman holding flowers – Te avae no Maria”.
I squint my eyes and see the 6 dominant colors. Matt from sea salt and faded after sun. I imagine sweet, summer drops raining on sweaty, salty bodies. I use white satin silk (manufactured in Jedwab Polski Milanówek since 1924), which add contrast to outwear, waterproof nylon ( manufactured in UK since 1880). Sensitive silk kisses our skin and nylon shields against rain. Collection contains four dresses, two coats, skirt and six scarves. Available to buy in 5WAY pop up store in Via Fiori Chiari 24, Brera, Milan and online.

Transience is the main motive of the campaign photographed by young polish artist Karolina Wojtas. We can find transience in many of Gaugin’s works, for example „Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” shows the endless cycle of life and death and gives unspecified mood . Set design by Miranda Walczak reveals this mood with the subdued and faded colours, blurres, withered flowers and fruits. Photographs are very pictorail, symbolically referring to the landscape of Tahiti.