Marialena Bacha
she/her
Born in 1998 Marialena Bacha is studying jewellery arts.
She has graduated from a one year course in Mokume Athens(2017), Gallileo Athens(2018) and has been attending classes at Anamma studio (2019-today). Since 2019 she has attended seminars with artists such as Estela Saez, Lavinia Rossetti and Daniela Malev.
She has participated in group exhibitions such as AJW (2019), 1.8.22b STEPS (2019), ΡΙΖΕΣ:ROOTS (2022) and “这件首饰壹佰元This jewelry is 100RMB(2023)
Currently she lives and works in Athens.
“In this piece i explored what my safe place really is. Was it a physical place, an emotion, an item? I came to a conclusion that a safe space can be the community we form around us, the found families. I used colours that represent me and make me feel safe, warm tones. The textures also are part of what bring me comfort, soft with some contrast of hardness. The result is a hug, both warm and firm. Much like my community i cannot only physically touch it but also carry it with me and provide it to others.”
“The piece symbolizes the arms of a community, a found family or a loved one wrapping around the body. A warm, grounding hug, keeping the person safe ,supporting them and their identity. Meanwhile its colour is warm and inviting, the texture fuzzy and pleasant while the hands are sturdy. It is able to bend and fit all bodies in accordance to ones comfort and also decorate the body with its vibrant colour and interesting texture.”
How does your work relate to the theme Adorned Serenity— How does the work function as a wearable safe space?
“I consider this piece both personal and impersonal. It is specific to me in the way that i made with colours and textures that bring me comfort. It represents my own community and loved ones. Yet at the same time it represents the found families and support systems other lgbtq+ people create, everyone has different experiences, ones that i cannot relate to and vice versa. But what ties us all together is the need of a safe, welcoming and accepting community to fall back to.”
How do you see this piece existing in the world as a wearable safe space?
Or is this piece specific to you?
"In their arms", brass, powder coating, faux fur, bronze wire, fabric, (length)181cm×(width)11cm, 2023
If someone found this piece and needed an instruction manual to make the safe space work — what’s a quick how to?
“To wear the piece, simply wrap it around the body in a way and place that makes you comfortable. It can be wrapped, bent, squished and twisted according to the wearer's comfort. Much like a hug, there are many different ways to adjust it to one's comfort.”
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“Other than being able to explore what i consider a safe space and what is and adorned space, i was able to explore jewellery making with other materials such as fabric. I used a sewing machine, got advice and help from my community and it resulted in this piece being far more emotionally charged and personal for me. I also found interesting how the end result sometimes looks like a feather boa, an accessory used in parts of the lgbtq+ community proudly. Just a little detail that was not in the plans but made me love the piece all the more.”
