Photo: Natália Golianová.

Where are you from?
From Bratislava.

Where did you study?
In high school I studied textiles at the Jozef Vydra School of Applied Arts in Bratislava. Then bachelor and master’s degree in Industrial design at AFAD. Now I am doctoral student in Experimental Design also at AFAD. During my studies I managed to do an internship in the ceramics studio (AFAD) and Peter Behrens School of Art in Düsseldorf, focusing on jewellery.

Who was your best teacher?
For me the best teacher is the one who can motivate me and the most successful was Sylvia Jokelová and Peter Nosáľ.

Who were/are your parents?
My mother teaches textile techniques at ÚĽUV [Centre of Folk Art Production] and my father worked at the Ministry of Finance and is now retired.

What don’t you enjoy in design?
Pose and things for effect.

And on the contrary, what do you?
When it makes sense and brings a soft value to at least someone.

What do you listen to?
I listen to music depending on what I’m doing or what time of day I’m having, but it accompanies me a lot. My playlist is also a kind of “diary” of moods. Most often there are names like Max Richter, Agnes Obel but also Aurora, Charlote Adigéry, The Happy Fits or Måneskin, for example. It’s such a hodgepodge.

Your favourite film, cartoon, series?
In the past I used to watch more films and series, but nowadays with so many productions the quality is lost and I often don’t even finish the film. My attention is drawn to those that are visually interesting, e.g. the horror film Vivarium, Midsomar, I also like the work of Wes Anderson. I guess it’s similar with movies as with music, I like to try different things and observe my reactions and emotions, but I’m very fond of sci-fi and mystery, from animated movies I’m particularly fond of one from my childhood – Monster a.s. Sitcom classics like Friends and Frasier I can always watch. 😀

Who do you respect as an authority in and out of your field?
I really appreciate it when someone cares about what they do and still manages to communicate respectfully and guard their integrity. I can take people like that as an authority. For me, Sylvia Jokelová and Marián Laššák are definitely among them, and recently I had the opportunity to meet Curro Claret in person, whom I also see as such. Outside the field, I would say Zuzana Čaputová.

What thing did you last buy?
I usually spend on food, coffee and experiences. I’m happy when I can spend time with friends, but if I have to think of the last thing I bought, it’s probably a vacuum cleaner. 😀 😀

Do you buy professional literature? What was the latest book?
I mostly buy professional literature, especially now that I’m working on my dissertation. I like information from a variety of fields, probably psychology and anthropology the most. The last book I bought was Myseľ ako objekt [Mind as Object] by Martin Takáč, published by Kalligram.

Do you vote?
Yes.

Who throws the best parties?
I’m not much of a party person, but sometimes my friends drag me out for a spontaneous one and I have fun because I’m with them.

Your favourite dome?
The Secession building in Vienna was the first thing that popped into my mind when I heard that word, I don’t know why.

Party dress. Made by…?
Probably something from the second-hand shop.

Your hero from the past?
In the past I considered self-sacrifice as heroic, now I see it as heroic when someone finds inner peace and balance between their individual and collective experience.

Best/nicest house?
There is one on Bezručova Street surrounded by ivy, every time I walk by it I say to myself that I would like to go inside and have a look.

Do you have any stereotypes when you work? How do they show?
My stereotype is that I don’t like stereotypes and it manifests itself in me learning and trying something new every time 😀 I’m always learning and trying something new.

What’s on your desktop?
When I’m currently working on something, lots of files and clutter. When I finish a project, I always make it a habit to sort through it and tidy it up.

Best exhibition, work of art?
It’s hard to pick one exhibition or piece of work, it’s always about the mood of the moment and a lot of factors play into it.

What do you respect both from the local and foreign design scene? And why?
I respect every artist’s work, it’s a manifestation of their inner experience, even if it’s true that I can’t exactly identify with some of the themes of their work.

Ethics or money?
Ethics.

Extraordinary book?
For me personally, Keď detstvo bolí [When Childhood Hurts].

Optimist, pessimist, nihilist?
I’m changing my life attitudes at the moment, but until recently more of a realistic idealist. 😀

Do you have any hobby?
Pole dancing, pilates, conversing, thinking. 😀

Solo or in a collective?
Collectively – I like it when people share their skills and abilities in collaborations. That’s when the best things are created and I always learn the most in the process too.

Slovakia as the Promised Land?
Maybe it has been for sometime and hopefully one day it will be, but I think it will only be when we are able to respect diversity and each other.