The study of the human form and relationships is what inspires Hoboken-based artist Jaclyn Mednicov in her continuous growing journey of self-expression.
With pieces that include vast empty interiors and faceless human forms, Mednicov brings her audience into a world where things are not exactly what they seem.
“What I love about it is the ability to create something that hasn’t existed and bring it to life,” said Mednicov, 27. “I love the process and the ability to express myself in a different way.”
Now exhibiting the latest pieces from her evolving series at the newly opened Cocoon Room, located at the Burning Butterfly, 1616 Manhattan Ave., Mednicov brings her unique visions to the residents of Union City.
“I like people to find their own meaning in my artwork,” said Mednicov. “That’s very inspirational for me.”
The artist
A shy, quiet girl growing up in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Mednicov would walk the halls of her high school peering into the art studios, where a world of creation took shape. She so wanted to be a part of that world that it ignited her life’s passion for the arts, but she would not devoutly pursue it until entering college.
“I started painting my second year of college,” said Mednicov. “In high school I was really inhibited, but I took a few courses. After taking a class in college, I knew I was being crazy, and I had to change my major.”
It has now been about nine years since Mednicov decided to seriously pursue her passion, which encompasses both painting and sculpture.
“I’m very drawn to sculpture,” said Mednicov. “They [painting and sculpture] all relate to each other. I take an element out of my paintings and make it into a three-dimensional form.”
Mednicov’s artwork revolves around the interpretation of human relationships and finding identity. Since many of these ideals focus on the inner scope of a human being, Mednicov eliminated the actual human form from her pieces, choosing instead to represent people through animals and empty clothing frozen in motion.
“Elements in my paintings are related to humans,” said Mednicov. “Every painting has about four different paintings underneath it. It develops.”
Mednicov’s artwork has evolved from her original landscape paintings, which were part of her first artistic endeavors. However, throughout the last five years, Mednicov has been focusing on interior space and incorporating her animal or clothing representations.
“I want to show expression through our clothing,” said Mednicov. “The exterior is what a lot of people are defined by, and I want to stimulate the viewer and myself about what’s going on inside.”
One of the main reasons Mednicov does not incorporate the actual human form is because she feels it will take away from the idea of relationships and identity. Her empty clothes frozen in motion give you the representation of a person, but focuses on the action occurring because there is no face to the form.
“I feel like I’m at this age where I’m newly discovering what my artwork’s about,” said Mednicov.
Travel
The tremendous growth in her artwork was also due to her frequently changing environment, as experiences in new places opened her eyes to a different world of ideas and subjects.
After finishing high school in Chicago, Mednicov enrolled in the University of Kansas, where she initially planned to study social work. She then took a semester in her junior year to study at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, where she was inspired by the rich backdrop of the Aussie outback.
“The landscape was very desolate and kind of eerie, but very inspiring,” said Mednicov.
Mednicov spent the entire semester in intense drawing and painting workshops, and really began to experiment into different realms of her art work.
“It was about taking myself out of my environment and really searching what my art work was about,” she said.
Two paintings that she created in Australia, which portray bamboo and female figures, are also on display at the Cocoon Room with her more current series, and slightly divert from the basic concepts of most of her paintings. She had also begun to experiment with more color during that time, which now includes vibrant to dark tones.
Throughout college she had the opportunity to display and sell a lot of her artwork, however, by graduation, Mednicov felt that she had accomplished all she could in Kansas. So, when a friend of hers living in Los Angeles suggested she move out there, Mednicov packed her belongings and headed for the West Coast.
“I worked in a studio in Santa Monica with other artists,” said Mednicov, who also began teaching art and started to experiment more with interior spaces in her paintings.
Two and a half years ago, she decided it was time for a change and moved once again, this time to New Jersey.
Her art
Now Mednicov resides in Hoboken, and divides her time between two jobs and painting. She has exhibited in small venue spaces around Hoboken and New York City, and is exhibiting for the first time in Union City.
“I want to get more installation work, possibly a gallery where I can play with the space,” said Mednicov.
Her latest series actually reverts back to her landscape concepts, but still around the same idea of identity.
“This series took about four or five months, and I made about 20 pieces,” said Mednicov. “I worked on three at a time. It’s nice working back and fourth because they feed off each other.”
Mednicov has had moderate success with her artwork, which ranges from $80 to $5,000. She does a lot of commissioned work, and selling her pieces further inspires her to create.
“It’s not about the money,” said Mednicov. I love that people want to live with it [the paintings]. I just want to share it. It helps me develop my art and it’s very motivating.”
Mednicov’s artwork will be on display and available for purchase at the Cocoon Room throughout the month of July. She will also be exhibiting new pieces in New York City at Union Square sometime near the end of August or early September. Any of the pieces still left from the Union City exhibit will be added to that display.
For more information on Jaclyn Mednicov and her work, visit www.jaclynm.com.