From Eco-Anxiety to Sustainable Art – How By Janica Was Born
As an 80s child, I have received a solid dose of “the world is ending soon!” panic training. (How many remember Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth documentary?) I have learned to recycle my waste, acquire my products consciously while considering the green footprint, and consume mainly locally produced food, no matter where in the world I am 🌿 I avoid disposing of products because guilt gnaws at my mind.
So how did I end up as an artist selling goods to others?
When I started my interior design studies in 2008, I knew I wasn’t going to become a designer. My time in school only reinforced that. I couldn’t stand watching furniture being carried to the dumpster without hesitation, only to be replaced entirely with new ones. That was the trend at the time. I went to school because I was genuinely interested in what kinds of environments people enjoy and how those environments are designed.
My world didn’t fall into place because of that. Of course, looking back, many of my interior design projects emphasized aesthetics—filling walls with nature-themed artworks and so on. One particular assignment stands out in my memory: we created a painting using fabric scraps for a wall. That was about 14 years ago.
In my upholstery studies in 2022, I encountered something similar. In an art course, we had to create art and argue its definition. I became so excited. I spent my entire summer vacation on the subject and, surprisingly, I delved specifically into textile art. I was fascinated! An art form that is not just beautiful to look at but also serves a purpose.
In that work, I imitated the materials of the artwork I had made in interior design school. Naturally, they were not sound-absorbing nor durable for relocation. I am already mourning the moment when I have to take the piece down from the wall. The artwork will be ruined...
After countless exhausting, failed thought paths and working hours, I am here. My art withstands shipping, it withstands time, it withstands relocation, it does not break easily, it can be modified (during Christmas, my panels had stars pinned onto them), it has a function (actually, multiple functions), and it serves a Purpose.
Additionally, I have found an excellent supplier for my printed products. The products come from nearby, they are high quality, they use recycled materials and organic products, such as organic cotton. They do not require vast storage spaces, as prints are made only when needed. And best of all! They bring meaning to their owners. They ground, uplift the spirit, and remind us how imperfectly perfect we are in this world.
Because of my principles, I do not use glue in my artworks. Even though it would speed up the process, I see it as an unnecessary chemical burden and an extra manufactured product. The world will have at least one less glue bottle produced (so to speak). Additionally, with a manually handcrafted attachment, I can personally guarantee its durability. I know exactly how every piece is secured. (With love, joy, blood, sweat, and tears, because an incredible number of times even a professional can stab a needle into their finger...!)
Thus, By Janica Oy was born from these values.
And from these values, my art is created for your homes 🍀
