Children visiting this Sao Paulo playground are in for a whimsical treat. Olek, a Polish artist who makes her home in Brooklyn, New York, has crocheted a colorful “coat” for the giant alligator playground structure, called “Crocheted Jacaré,” made with “North Carolinian acrylic yarn and Brazilian ribbons” as part of the 2012 SESC Arts Show.
Olek (born Agata Oleksiak) graduated from university with a degree in cultural studies but it was upon relocating to the Big Apple where she discovered the art of crochet, a medium she chose so she could “do two things at once: watch movies and make art.” Her work has brought her international fame via exhibits, awards, and residencies, and her affection for color is obvious in the products of her prolific hands.
“There is the unraveling, the ephemeral part of my work that never lets me forget about the limited life of the art object and art concept. What do I intend to reveal? You have to pull the end of the yarn to unravel the story behind the crochet.”
