Melbourne artist Urszula Mos is the contradiction of a haunting and vibrant dark style. Her work focuses on life, death and nature’s disconnection in between.
Her new project, Reincarne Nation, centres on animal skulls that have died ethically, but through her dexterous alchemy, she gives them life.
Again.
Ursh, as she likes to be called, resides and works her magic between the four walls of her Melbourne apartment. Born in rural communist Bialystok, Poland, it was her family’s humble beginnings that drive her today. Ursh came to Australia with her mother and father as political refugees, with $50 in their pockets and not a word of English between them.
It was that leap of faith that ignited an indomitable spirit.
A Q&A:
Could you tell us a little about “Reincarne Nation”?
“Carne” in Latin and European derivative languages means “flesh”. I decided to one day illustrate skulls I had and the idea was born. As I feel I give these skulls another life, it is a play on the idea of them reincarnated.
The first series of skulls take on a Japanese theme. I have sourced high quality inks from Japan that follow a copperplate traditional printing process. The next series I will focus on vintage medical manuals and some tribal patterning. I want the skulls to look raw, clean and step away from cliché taxidermy.
Why skulls as a medium?
I’ve always collected skulls and taxidermy animals/insects but I have always been more fascinated with the thought of altering them. My style is intricate and I normally draw on paper and have even toyed with tattooing; however this time I wanted the skulls to act as my canvas.
When I drew on my first animal skull I felt like I had bought it to life again, like it was reborn. I also find it interesting that once these skulls are covered in art people no longer associate them with death.
What / who would you cite as major influences over your work?
I have always produced dark art, but predominantly by women trying to make a statement through their body of work. I love Kathe Kollwitz who depicted grim imagery of the human condition and the tragedy of war and Artemisia Gentileschi’s use of chiaroscuro and for being a woman artist ahead of her time.
I have also always been interested by the history of tattoos and ritualistic tribal markings. From traditional Japanese to tribal designs, the patterns definitely are a source of my work.
Apart from that my inspiration is drawn from around me, the beauty and simplicity of nature, lyrics of a song or street art that catches my eye. My boyfriend Jack is a major influence for me, his ideas and thought processes illuminate my mind, and we tend to collaborate a lot together.
Where can we find your skulls for purchase?
I am literally getting started and the response has been overwhelming. You can email me with all inquiries on my facebook page whilst I built my website:
Facebook/Reincarne-Nation: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reincarne-Nation/338390259640859
Vincent
