35 x 35 x 35 cm

Sculpture

In the artworks of Katarina Kudelova, the material gold functions in two distinct yet interconnected symbolic registers: as a gesture of healing care and as a symbol of unyielding power.

In Threads of Gold, gold is used as a metaphorical Kintsugi, a Japanese repair technique, to highlight the wounds of animals caught in barbed wire. By covering the lacerations with gold, Kudelova's work acknowledges the "misconduct" of the human-animal conflict and supremacy. The precious metal symbolises the longing for harmony and a caring hand despite the cruelty.

Conversely, in the wall installation Feast, gold signifies absolute power and divinity. The golden predator, enthroned on the remnants of its subjects, uses gold to demonstrate its awe-inspiring authority and strength. Here, the metal embodies the cold, undeniable nature of prey and dominion, creating a tension between its inherent beauty.