Matea Bakula (Sarajevo, 1990) graduated from HKU Utrecht in 2013 and currently lives in Utrecht. In her creating process Bakula is looking beyond the aesthetics of the material she is using. She almost works like a chemist or a physicist that is trying to find the answers of the material’s secrets. She does not only want to know the qualities or limitations of the materials that she is using; she also wants to find out the reasons behind them, like why certain material easily stretches or why another material spreads out in an oval or roundish way and is showing her version of the answers through her sculptures. Bakula’s fascination and respect for chemicals like polyurethane foam and methylethylketon is clearly visible and it seems that the works are the result of a collaboration in which Bakula took the role of a choreographer who by putting it to an extreme is able to find the profound character of the materials.
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Artworks by Matea Bakula
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GAVU Cheb / Matea Bakula, Laureátka ceny StartPoint 2013. Malá galerie
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Matea Bakula (Sarajevo, 1990) is an emerging artist who is often fascinated by the nature and the potential of different materials. In her creating process Bakula is looking beyond the aesthetics of the material she is using. She almost works like a chemist or a physicist that is trying to find the answers of the material’s secrets.
Recent shows include: Family Jewels at Horizonverticaal, Haarlem (2023); Art Island (2023); A WHEEL A STONE A ROPE A WING, duo-show with Ruta Butkute at PARK, Tilburg (2023); Four Positions, group show at De Apotheek, Amsterdam (2021-22); One eye and two takes on vulnerability, duo show with Milena Naef at Lumen Travo Gallery (2020); Reflections on Nature, group show at Lumen Travo Gallery (2019); Between grace and fury at Kunstvereniging Diepenheim (2018) Art Cologne (2018); Prospects and concepts, Art Rotterdam (2018); "The chemistry between dr. Frank and me", Lumen Travo gallery (2017); Work Title Festival, Les Brigittines, Brussels (2016); “Let us meet and let us meet again”, Casco, Utrecht (2016); “Work Title Situation #3”, Work Space Brussels, Brussels; “I wish I never kissed that frog”, Jeanine Ho and, Amsterdam (both in 2015); Matea Bakula, GAVU, Cheb, (Solo), Started, Czech Centres, Prague (both in 2014); Start Point Prize, Arti et Amicitiae , Amsterdam which travelled to KASK, Ghent and Dox, Prague (2013-2014); Formal Attire, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (2013), Best Of Graduates Exhibitions, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (2013), among others.
In 2013 Bakula was the recipient of the Startpoint Prize: Best European Emerging Artist in Prague. Matea, as a young artists and emerging talent in the Dutch scene, was also part of the Mondriaan Fund’s Prospects & Concepts at Art Rotterdam 2019.
Recent shows include: Family Jewels at Horizonverticaal, Haarlem (2023); Art Island (2023); A WHEEL A STONE A ROPE A WING, duo-show with Ruta Butkute at PARK, Tilburg (2023); Four Positions, group show at De Apotheek, Amsterdam (2021-22); One eye and two takes on vulnerability, duo show with Milena Naef at Lumen Travo Gallery (2020); Reflections on Nature, group show at Lumen Travo Gallery (2019); Between grace and fury at Kunstvereniging Diepenheim (2018) Art Cologne (2018); Prospects and concepts, Art Rotterdam (2018); "The chemistry between dr. Frank and me", Lumen Travo gallery (2017); Work Title Festival, Les Brigittines, Brussels (2016); “Let us meet and let us meet again”, Casco, Utrecht (2016); “Work Title Situation #3”, Work Space Brussels, Brussels; “I wish I never kissed that frog”, Jeanine Ho and, Amsterdam (both in 2015); Matea Bakula, GAVU, Cheb, (Solo), Started, Czech Centres, Prague (both in 2014); Start Point Prize, Arti et Amicitiae , Amsterdam which travelled to KASK, Ghent and Dox, Prague (2013-2014); Formal Attire, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg (2013), Best Of Graduates Exhibitions, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam (2013), among others.
In 2013 Bakula was the recipient of the Startpoint Prize: Best European Emerging Artist in Prague. Matea, as a young artists and emerging talent in the Dutch scene, was also part of the Mondriaan Fund’s Prospects & Concepts at Art Rotterdam 2019.
CV
EDUCATION
2009 - 2013
HKU (University of the Arts, Utrechts)
BFA
EXHIBITIONS
2021
Art Rotterdam 2021, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam
2020
Collector's item, Centraal Museum, Utrecht
Koop dit of dit of dit, Kunskoop exhibition by Mondrian Fund, Capital-C, Amsterdam
Commisioned artwork: A letter from a free man @ Het Utrechts Archief, Utrecht.
Duo-show: One eye and two takes on vulnerability, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
We do matter (collaboration with Nick Steur), Beyond the black box (Vlaams cultuurhuis de Brakke grond), Amsterdam
2019
We do matter (collaboration with Nick Steur), Playground festival (STUK), Louvain.
Scenarios of desire II, Emergent, Veurne.
Jonge beelden, Beelden in Leiden, Leiden.
The reflections on nature, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
Art Rotterdam, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam
2018
Between grace and fury, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Diepenheim.
Prospects and concepts, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Unfair, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
Art Cologne represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Cologne
2017
The chemistry between doctor Frank and me, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
2016
Dream online art fair, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery
Work Title Situation #4, Work Space Brussels, Brussels
Let us meet and let us meet again, Casco, Utrecht
2015
Work Title Situation #3, Work Space Brussels, Brussels
I wish I never kissed that frog, Jeanine Hofland gallery, Amsterdam.
Art Brussels, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery, Brussels
Art Rotterdam, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery, Rotterdam
2014
Unfair, Amsterdam.
Matea Bakula (Solo), GAVU, Cheb.
Started, Czech Centres, Prague
Start Point Prize, Arti et Amacetiae, Amsterdam.
We Know This Much, Space Untitled, Maarssen
2013
Start Point Prize, KASK, Ghent
The Artist As Producer, Bewaerschole, Burgh
Start Point Prize, Dox, Prague.
Best Of Graduates Exhibitions, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam.
Exposure, HKU, Utrecht.
Formal Attire, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg.
PRIZES / HONORABLE MENTIONS / NOMINATIONS / FUNDS
2020
Nominated for the K.F.Hein stipend.
2019
Nominated for NN group art award, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Project investment awarded by Mondrian fund
Project investment award by Gerbrandy culture fund.
2016
Interest free loan awarded from Fonds Kwadraat
Werkbijdrage Jong Talent awarderd by Mondrian fund
2013
Prize winner, Startpoint Prize: Best European Emerging Artist, Prague
SELECTION OF PUBLICATIONS
2019
Palet Magazine
2018
Between grace and fury, made possible by Kunstvereniging Diepenheim Mister Motley.
2016
Tijdschrift Ei #46.
2014
Matea Bakula, made possible by GAVU Cheb & Start Point Prize
2013
Startpoint Prize Catalogue 2013
RESIDENCIES
2019
Residency @ atelier KANS with Nick Steur, made possible by SoAP Maastricht, Brussels
2019
KAMEN artist residency, Orah.
2014
Startpoint Prize Emerging Artist Residency, Prague
ACTIVITIES
2015 -2017
Member @ Das Spectrum, Utrecht
2013 - 2014
Committee member, Foundation AAN: Platform for starting artists, Utrecht
2009 - 2013
HKU (University of the Arts, Utrechts)
BFA
EXHIBITIONS
2021
Art Rotterdam 2021, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam
2020
Collector's item, Centraal Museum, Utrecht
Koop dit of dit of dit, Kunskoop exhibition by Mondrian Fund, Capital-C, Amsterdam
Commisioned artwork: A letter from a free man @ Het Utrechts Archief, Utrecht.
Duo-show: One eye and two takes on vulnerability, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
We do matter (collaboration with Nick Steur), Beyond the black box (Vlaams cultuurhuis de Brakke grond), Amsterdam
2019
We do matter (collaboration with Nick Steur), Playground festival (STUK), Louvain.
Scenarios of desire II, Emergent, Veurne.
Jonge beelden, Beelden in Leiden, Leiden.
The reflections on nature, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
Art Rotterdam, represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Rotterdam
2018
Between grace and fury, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Diepenheim.
Prospects and concepts, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Unfair, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
Art Cologne represented by Lumen Travo gallery, Cologne
2017
The chemistry between doctor Frank and me, Lumen Travo gallery, Amsterdam.
2016
Dream online art fair, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery
Work Title Situation #4, Work Space Brussels, Brussels
Let us meet and let us meet again, Casco, Utrecht
2015
Work Title Situation #3, Work Space Brussels, Brussels
I wish I never kissed that frog, Jeanine Hofland gallery, Amsterdam.
Art Brussels, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery, Brussels
Art Rotterdam, represented by Jeanine Hofland gallery, Rotterdam
2014
Unfair, Amsterdam.
Matea Bakula (Solo), GAVU, Cheb.
Started, Czech Centres, Prague
Start Point Prize, Arti et Amacetiae, Amsterdam.
We Know This Much, Space Untitled, Maarssen
2013
Start Point Prize, KASK, Ghent
The Artist As Producer, Bewaerschole, Burgh
Start Point Prize, Dox, Prague.
Best Of Graduates Exhibitions, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam.
Exposure, HKU, Utrecht.
Formal Attire, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg.
PRIZES / HONORABLE MENTIONS / NOMINATIONS / FUNDS
2020
Nominated for the K.F.Hein stipend.
2019
Nominated for NN group art award, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam.
Project investment awarded by Mondrian fund
Project investment award by Gerbrandy culture fund.
2016
Interest free loan awarded from Fonds Kwadraat
Werkbijdrage Jong Talent awarderd by Mondrian fund
2013
Prize winner, Startpoint Prize: Best European Emerging Artist, Prague
SELECTION OF PUBLICATIONS
2019
Palet Magazine
2018
Between grace and fury, made possible by Kunstvereniging Diepenheim Mister Motley.
2016
Tijdschrift Ei #46.
2014
Matea Bakula, made possible by GAVU Cheb & Start Point Prize
2013
Startpoint Prize Catalogue 2013
RESIDENCIES
2019
Residency @ atelier KANS with Nick Steur, made possible by SoAP Maastricht, Brussels
2019
KAMEN artist residency, Orah.
2014
Startpoint Prize Emerging Artist Residency, Prague
ACTIVITIES
2015 -2017
Member @ Das Spectrum, Utrecht
2013 - 2014
Committee member, Foundation AAN: Platform for starting artists, Utrecht
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