Souvenir ≋ Ivana Zuskinová

Souvenir
temporary site-specific installation in a public space as part of the International Glass Symposium in Nový Bor, ❷⓿❷❹

material: glass, screen printing with glass powder
photography: Kristína Opálková, Vít Černý
collaboration: TGK – Skalice u České Lípy, Lasvit

Artistic freedom is a rare luxury within the rhythm of everyday working life. I see it as something worth fighting for — an essential tool for mental well-being and self-expression. In my work, I often explore how art, rest, and labour can intertwine into a meaningful whole.

During my residency at IGS (International Glass Symposium), I began to think about holidays not only as passive rest, but also as a space where creativity can flourish. Time spent in nature, galleries, and new environments becomes a quiet escape — and at the same time, a space for focused creation.

In collaboration with TGK, I created a personal souvenir as a gesture of gratitude. Leaving it behind in the place was a symbolic act — a way of giving a part of my creative identity to the place and to the people who will come after us.

This idea builds upon the legacy of William Morris — a designer and thinker closely connected to the relationship between art, nature, and everyday life. Inspired by his floral motifs and by the connection to Islington, my home in London, I created an installation celebrating the richness of the local landscape.

The Souvenir collection is a tribute to both personal experience and shared space — connecting contemporary creation with historical inspiration and transforming leisure time into a lasting creative trace.