The ongoing pandemic has highlighted global sustainability goals as younger generations’ main priorities, and art and media are great attention-catching tools, pushing people to re-imagine our evolving conception of an ethical stewardship of nature. Lucia Pec is a Czech land artist that uses natural materials found on sight to create her art pieces. Pec also has over 13k people following her Instagram account where weekly she shares her artwork (link to mrs. Pec’s account: https://instagram.com/my.creative.nature?utm_medium=copy_link) . Through this interview you will get to know Lucia Pec as an modern artist and sustainability supporter. Through this article you will get to know Lucia Pec as an modern artist and sustainability supporter.
- What prompted you to start using natural materials in your art projects?
It all started about 20 years ago. I was studying biology and went on a course about forestry. In the building where the course was held I found some books from Andy Goldsworthy. From the first moment i was fascinated by his landart and could not put down the books the whole weekend. 10 years later I started to make ephemeral art from ocean litter I collected on portuguese beaches and I started to combine it sometimes with natural material. Now after 10 years i use mostly Natural Material and only Sometimes beach plastic.
- What does the concept of ‘being one with nature’ mean to you?
It is not a concept for me, it is the reality. We are Nature, always. We just dont feel it or do not believe or know it. And very often we do not act like it. This felt and believed disconnection causes huge Problems globally and individually. I believe we have to feel again that we are always one with Nature, in order to live in harmony with each other, mother earth and all beings.
- What do you wish people could pay attention to when seeing your work for the first time?
I do not wish for anything specific. If my art can touch people, reach their hearts in any way, I am very grateful.
- What do you like the most about working with natural resources?
For me personally it is a wonderful feeling of oneness to work with natural Material, to collaborate with natures beauty. Also I am not using Up any resources for making art. I am just rearranging pieces of nature for a very short time. For the people who see my art and enjoy it, I like the effect, that using Natural Material I emphasize the beauty of nature.
- Is there perhaps any famous artist that has inspired you to do what you do, and why?
Andy Goldsworthy!!! His work is so strong and amazing and speaks to me. I like many other landartists and many of them are inspiring me, but he is my greatest Inspiration.
- What, in your opinion, does balance and spirituality have to do with art?
Making Art and being touched by Art is bringing our mind to the present moment, into the now. It makes us mindful, the artist and the person who looks at it. Thus it increases awareness and conciousness, brings us in spriritual balance and can heal us from our ego madness.
- Is there a special message you are trying to portray with your artwork?
No… every artwork is different and every person looking at it might experience something different, depending where they are in life. I make art because I feel a strong urge to do it. If someone likes it, opens the heart and is being touched, that is wonderful.
- What do you find the hardest about working with natural resources?
It is not hard…. I dont mind wind, rain, rocks that move, Its okay if it does not work the way I try to do it, that is all part of the amazing creative process. Sometimes I spend too long time in a funny body pose and my body aches later…. But I would not call anything like that really hard...
- Why do you find it important to talk about nature and its powers in modern society?
Talking about nature means talking about ourselves and our healing, I think we need to do that to save ourselves and to stop the suffering of other fellow beings and the whole mother earth. But much more then talking we all need time and mindful silence in nature.