Asian civilisations and cultures have long fascinated the artist and continue to inform her practice. In this project, Aleksandra explores the symbolic language of Eastern signs, patterns and motifs. She examines their visual and cultural meaning, and the ways they might be reinterpreted in contemporary textile and carpet design.

The artist does not treat traditional motifs as closed or purely decorative forms. For her, they are a starting point for new visual narratives, rooted in history, spirituality and cultural identity.

In the artist’s words

‘My interest in these forms comes from their rich symbolism and their connection to history, spirituality and cultural identity. I don’t see traditional motifs as something fixed – for me, they are the beginning of new stories,’ says Aleksandra Bonikowska.

The project is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

The ‘Young Poland’ programme is one of the most important forms of state patronage of the arts in Poland. Over its history, it has awarded grants to 1,945 artists. This year’s selection was exceptionally difficult, with a record 1,245 applications submitted. The competition committee appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage selected 104 recipients, whose projects span literature, visual arts, music, dance, theatre and film.

About the artist

Aleksandra Bonikowska is a designer and artist. She graduated from the Władysław Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, where she now works as an assistant at the Institute of Design. Since 2022 she has coordinated the Erasmus+ programme for students of Design, Interior Architecture and Graphic Design, and supervises the completion of bachelor’s and master’s projects.

Her practice sits at the intersection of design, craft and visual arts, with a particular focus on textiles, carpets and innovative interior objects. She combines digital and traditional techniques, creating a dialogue between new technologies and older methods of making.

History, cultural heritage and the visual language of tradition lie at the heart of her work. She often draws on cultural symbols, religious iconography and folk traditions, which she transforms and reinterprets from the perspective of contemporary design.

She is active in academic and cultural life, taking part in exhibitions, workshops and conferences, and works with cultural institutions and industrial manufacturing partners. She is a recipient of the prestigious ‘Young Poland’ grant from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad.

Practical information and contact

• Exhibition: From Concept to Carpet
• Dates: opening night 14 November, 6–9pm (exhibition runs 14–27 November)
• Venue: POSK Gallery, London, UK

For more information visit: https://www.artrabbit.com/events/from-concept-to-carpet-aleksandra-bonikowska