We continue our regular performances and exchanges of artists together with our friends from the Savonlinna. What is it about? Together we present one artist from us and one from them and we ask them to answer 4 same questions.
xchange of artists online and still have a lot of fun :) Read blogposts about other Artistic Exchange in News. Today's interview is with the fabric designer Kaisa and graphic designer Filip Ovádek.
Filip Ovádek (on the right) and Peter Štuller in the activity for #trencin2026
Filip Ovádek is living in Trenčín and is a designer, street art artist, art director, DJ and most recently a father in one person. In addition to designing websites, apps and creating various visuals, he focuses on creating street art with an overlap into graphics and typography. In 2018, he founded the art festival "Fest Art", which focuses on visual art in combination with street art and modern painting. He is also a member of the DJ crew Face2bass, which recently celebrated 11 years of existence and has had more than 50 events in Trenčín. In 2019, after 5 years of living in Munich, Germany, he moved back to Trenčín, where he currently works in the multimedia studio White Corner.
Fínska dizajnérka Kaisa
Kaisa is a clothing and pattern designer from Savonlinna. She draws and color the world by creating wonderful and floral patterns and designs.
We asked artists 4 simple questions. Find out with us the similarity but also the differences in their view of the current situation, as well as their work itself.
1. What is the role of nature in your art?
Filip: Nature is represented in my art, whether intentionally or subconsciously, as it is part of the life of each of us. Probably the most active I focused on the topic of nature at Fest Art in 2019. The main idea and assigned topic for artists were the basic natural elements - earth, water, fire and air, through which the overall concept was created on a wall about 90 meters long. This year, the festival will take place in the immediate presence of nature, by the river Váh and its theme will be "Water as a whole necessary for life".
Kaisa: Huge! I am a dreamer by nature and like to look to the ground. Small things are often the most surprising and beauty can be found very near when you look closely. The roadsides are full of the most wonderful little flowers from spring to autumn and you just have to pay attention to see its enormous variety.
Graffic pattern from Kaisa from Finland
2. How has covid19 affected your work?
Filip: The pandemic situation, of course, affected all aspects related to the Fest Art event. We had to move or cancel events, in some cases reduce the possible capacity of people at events that we already had planned. In my professional life as a designer, personal meetings have moved from the real world to online space, but I have not felt otherwise in this area.
Kaisa: This disgusting epidemic has brought my work miraculously sheer good! Going online with my art and business has been a good thing and it feels like people are longing for more happy and caring clothing and fabrics in their lives.
Filip Ovádek sells his graphics also online
3. How would you like to develop your city in the next few years?
Filip: We have several projects under development, where we try to work with the improvement of community as well as cultural life in the city and the creation of facilities for artistic or other creative groups of people, but I can't say more about that yet. Of course, the expansion of public spaces within Fest Art will certainly continue in the coming years, and events within it will be enriched with other activities.
Kaisa: In Savonlinna, many things are already going in the right direction. Personally, I miss public art in the city center and such projects are also in my plans. Now there is too much grey concrete in the cityscape.
Clothes sewn from fabrics by designer Kaisa
4. Why your city should be chosen for the European Capital of Culture in 2026?
Filip: Trenčín has a great perspective in development and a strong cultural background. The city has a very good strategic and an ideal location. There are a lot of creative and clever people who have a clear vision for improving life in the city. I think that the city's candidacy in the ECOC project and its possible victory would be a wonderful opportunity, help and support for these talented people.
Kaisa: The authenticity is here! The nature here is in itself beautiful, but also people creating beauty and love around them are numerous. We are perfectly different , that is what this is all about.
Artwork: All Colours are Beautiful od Filipa Ovádka
In cooperation with Saimaa-ilmiö ❤ Trenčín, we decided to bring interesting articles and interviews about Trenčín2026 and Saimaa-ilmiö2026, every week, as well as presenting various artists, interesting tourist places and mutual conversations. We can't wait for more :)