This is the first part of the Matryoshka Project.  Last year Kyle and I collaborated on a 3D Matryoshka Doll sculpture. We worked on the concept together.  He designed and fabricated the 3D form and I designed and fabricated the mosaic pattern.  This 2D doll was created by me to work out the design for the 3D doll.  Though she took on a life of her own and became her own piece.

I love the fresh and lively feeling of the combination of blue and green.  I wanted her to look youthful, modern and full of good energy.  Her belly is imprinted with the lotus flower – a symbol for purity and divine life.  For me she is the symbol of a youthful woman, full of life and energy.  As a nesting doll she is curvy and symbolizes the fertility of a youthful beauty.

The Matryoshka Doll sculpture was a collaborative effort between me (Kasia) a mosaic artist and Kyle a designer.  We have collaborated in the past, but this is by far our most fruitful project to date.  For a couple of years we’ve been toying with the idea of creating a mosaic sculpture.  Finally when the doll came up, we knew that it was the perfect subject.  The curves are pleasing to the eye and the form is suitable for applying a mosaic to it.  Creating the form alone was a huge undertaking.  Kyle spent weeks researching, sculpting and prepping the form for me to mosaic over.  I’ve also spent weeks researching the doll, designing our concept, theme and colors, and fabricating the mosaic.  Our doll is a youthful, curvy and joyful.  She is a symbol of fertility as other Matryoshka dolls are.  She is pure and vailed in white.  Her eyes and the pin that holds her scarf in place are green like the jade stone which symbolized life and growth.  Her belly, which will swell with life and protect her growing children, is covered with a lotus flower which signifies purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth.