Dorthe Lykke Troke, Untitled, needles & metal

Interview: Dorthe Lykke Troke

After her participation in Future Identities – Bodies . Places . Spaces, Dorthe Lykke Troke meets Luca Curci.

The Danish artist Dorthe Lykke Troke makes sculptures. She studied art in Denmark, where she taught art to Danish and refugee children. In creating sculptures she collects and alters materials in her ongoing investigation of time and human transformation in life.She often incorporates sewing, embroidery or threads into her work to enhance the idea of history weaving through the object.

Dorthe Lykke Troke, In between heaven and earth, 60x200cm

Luca Curci – Your work has just been exhibited during Future Identities – Bodies. Places. Spaces: can you talk about your personal experience in Venice with International ArtExpo?

Dorthe Lykke Troke – Exhibiting with International ArtExpo gave me an opportunity to exhibit in a different space and allowing for new adventures in Venice, Italy which is outside my usual exhibit areas of Barcelona and Denmark . The exhibition space was good, the expo as expected. I was invited to be present while they were hanging up my piece and I should have taken them up on their offer and arrived earlier so I could have helped to arrange my sculpture. Nice opening night with artist from different countries.

Dorthe Lykke Troke, Untitled, wax & threads

L. C. – Can you talk about the artwork you presented in Venice? How is it linked with the festival’s theme?

D. L. T. – My wax sculpture is in two parts and are related to body, space and the transition our identity goes through in life. I only exhibited part one here in Venice. Part two happens when fire melts the whole sculpture. The piece is about the impact of poetry and warmth within, about sensuality from the beginning to the end of life. White wax formations on thin strings, fragile like a life ready to break or to be lived. Warm drops of wax runs down until time is up. A solid mass of wax remains on the ground after the beauty is gone.

Dorthe Lykke Troke, Untitled, embroidery on night dress

L. C. – What are you currently working on?

D. L. T. – I’m in a transition right now. I just moved from Barcelona to Denmark and I’m currently setting up a studio in an old train wagon. I’m playing with an earlier piece, a leaf sculpture, trying to develop a new piece with same materials, where you can enter into the leaf piece like it is another world /another side. The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe by C.S.Lewis is a fantastic story were you enter into another world through a wardrobe; It is time for me to play with the border between here and the other side in my sculptures.

L. C. – What is art for you?

D. L. T. – I use art to investigate, understand and digest life. It inspires me and makes my life whole. It gives me an independency, a way to communicate and a personal space where I can steal time.

Dorthe Lykke Troke, Threads of ice, water & threads

L. C. – What do you think about International ArtExpo organization?

D. L. T. – I think it gives new artists an opportunity to exhibit outside their country in a relaxed setting. It could give new connection to artists from other countries.

L. C. – Do you think International ArtExpo organization can represent an opportunity for artists?

D. L. T. – Yes , but I think individual written critics after each expo would help the artist in private to grow. An exhibition from Venice will improve my c.v and give me more exposure.