The Illuminator

Dzelde Mierkalne’s practice is distinguished by a unique use of the scagliola technique – a historical method of imitating marble – which she adapts to address contemporary existential and psychological themes. Her work often merges delicate material constructions with ironic or pop-cultural references, striking a balance between emotional intensity and critical detachment. Through the lens of post-irony and humour, Mierkalne engages with existential anxieties, playfully blending drawing and sculptural form.

Cradlecodex 42, executed in scagliola inlay, refers to the earliest of printed books of the Middle Ages – whose layout design replicated the style and type of the handwritten manuscripts. The dimensions of Mierkalne’s work reference the actual size of Gutenberg’s Bible, whose significance in the history of printed matter is difficult to overstate. Paired with The Illuminator, Mierkalne reflects on the tradition of printmaking and its influence on the operational systems we rely on today. The seemingly carefree, naive figures she depicts are imbued with an anxiety of the impending apocalypse. Through the combination of both works, she addresses the life cycle of a graphic figure and comments on the existential weight of the printed form.