VESTALIS

The title of the sculpture ‘Vestalis’ indicates that the author’s focus is on the role of woman as guardian. She makes a clear reference to the role played by selected women in ancient Rome.

The expressive force of the work is the repetition of the figures. Set in a line, they are a reference to the decorative motif of paper cut-outs, popular in the folk culture of many regions of Poland.

Each woman grows out of a ball of openwork strips, the colours of which symbolise: roots, nature, femininity. The pattern is taken from the style of the Łowicz stripes of the Mazowsze region, where the author is currently working.

On a colourful base, the figures balance in search of equilibrium. The stabilising element is a white belt connecting them. The more vestals there are, the stronger this bond becomes, becoming a guarantee of permanence and continuity.

The arrangement of the hair, which melts into the shape of the figure, is reminiscent of an egg, the symbol of life. The hairstyle evokes a modern haircut, or perhaps an oversized soldier’s helmet. It suggests that the role of woman that the modern world imposes is too difficult, but through her own strength reinforced by her bond with others, rooted in culture, a woman is able to cope with it.