IGREK (noun)

e - grec

1: the Polish word for the letter "Y" 

2: a small dude made out of gold wire

BACKGROUND

As a mixed media artist with a history of jewelry design, wire has always been my favorite form of media to work with. I first stumbled across Igrek's form by accident - I was simply experimenting with wire shapes for fun. With that origin story in mind I named him "Igrek": the Polish word for the letter "Y". To me, Igrek embodies the idea of "Y Not?" . 

NEOTU on the other hand, stands for "New Eyes on the Universe", a phrase I found in a magazine that has stuck with me ever since. The concepts of NEOTU and Igrek both inspired me to create a project that would help spread that mindset. The mindset of: "Why not try something new?" "Why not look at the world with a new perspective?"

OBJECTIVE

Our world is quickly shifting from physical to digital, and with the rise of AI I worry about the decrease of creativity and connection in our daily lives. By distributing multiple versions of Igrek to strangers I meet on my travels, I aim to have them step into the shoes of an artist. When they take their pictures of Igrek I want them to consider placement, lighting, but most importantly their surroundings. 

Art is not limited to those who can crank out a 30x40 inch oil painting in one afternoon. It is accessible to all of us, and I hope to make people realize that through this project.