EDENtity
A few questions to Katerina Korshun
Let’s talk about Genesis—how did your story begin?
One half of my heart is made of felt, the other is woven from twigs and blades of grass. Textiles and nature have been my passion and source of inspiration since childhood.
I grew up in Kazakhstan in a family of artists. Since I was a little girl, I was constantly creating: drawing, embroidering, collecting leaves and flowers to make herbariums. My greatest treasure was a bag full of colorful fabric scraps: my mother sewed clothes for us, and I made them for my dolls. As a teenager, I started making my own clothes and already knew I wanted to become a fashion designer.
I attended an art school in my hometown and later chose to pursue fashion design. I graduated from the Vitebsk State Technological University in Belarus, where I studied painting, drawing, composition, and the history of art and costume.
The turning point came in 2009, when I moved to Prague and discovered the incredible potential of felt. I found in this material a unique plasticity, warmth, and endless creative possibilities. I began reinterpreting an ancient craft through an artistic lens, experimenting with natural materials to give this technique a contemporary voice.
I started creating unique garments and accessories out of wool and silk, and in 2014 I founded the School of Contemporary Felt. Over the past ten years, I’ve taught thousands of students.
In recent years, my desire to express myself through art has grown stronger. I began creating tapestries through which, using natural fibers, I explore the deep bond between humans and nature. I believe that art can help us rediscover the sacredness of the world around us.
That’s how a new chapter in my life began, where the two halves of my heart beat in unison, ready for new discoveries.
How does nature inspire your projects and lifestyle?
Nature is my greatest teacher and the central theme of my artistic journey. I observe its rhythms, its transformations, and its ability to create harmony even in opposites.
I’ve chosen to work with natural materials like wool and plant fibers because they possess their own character—a life that cannot be imposed upon, only guided. Creating with these materials means entering into a dialogue with nature itself, listening to its voice, and finding a balance between human gesture and the intrinsic properties of matter. This process is a form of meditation for me—an exercise in attention and respect.
I choose sustainable materials, repurpose textile scraps to give them new life, and adhere to a philosophy of waste reduction.
How do you practice the search for wonder?
For me, wonder comes from the careful observation of nature and its infinite details. I watch how textures form on rocks shaped by wind, how light plays on the surface of water, how plants follow their growth rhythms. These processes fascinate me and echo in my works.
I look for rhymes and symmetries between the natural world and the inner world: the transformations of matter and soul reflect each other in surprising ways. This outlook allows me to see unexpected connections and to translate them into the abstract language of fibers.
Another key practice is my dialogue with materials. I’ve worked with wool for 15 years, yet this living material never ceases to surprise me and push me toward new experiments. Every fiber has its own will, its own energy, and creating with it means embracing its unpredictability. I let the wool and silk guide me, allowing them to intertwine organically—just as in nature’s own processes of growth and transformation. This attitude keeps me open to discovery, turning every piece into an experience of listening and wonder.
Who are the people who have inspired you the most artistically and professionally?
One of the figures who has inspired me most is Olga de Amaral. I admire her innovative approach to reinterpreting traditional textile techniques and her ability to turn fiber into pure artistic expression. Her work shows how textiles can transcend their original function and become a medium for exploring space, light, and material—creating pieces that are both rooted in tradition and revolutionary.
I’m also inspired by the Impressionists, especially Claude Monet and Odilon Redon. Monet teaches me to capture life in the moment, to observe subtle changes in light and atmosphere. His ability to depict nature in constant motion is something I strive to incorporate into my work. Redon, on the other hand, fascinates me with his visionary, poetic language and the way he transforms reality into dream and symbol. From both of them I learn the importance of dynamic gesture and chromatic sensitivity—elements I bring into my work with natural fibers.
Which piece of art/design object would you place at the center of an exhibition?
For me, the centerpiece of an exhibition would be a piece that explores spatiality and transparency. I imagine a work with transparent silk inserts between sections of felt, arranged so that it can be viewed from both sides. This would create a “see-through” effect, reminding us that reality is multilayered and can be seen from different perspectives.
What emotion or feeling do you hope people experience when they see your work?
When people encounter my work, I hope they feel a sense of harmony and serenity. The large formats and tactile surfaces of my pieces invite viewers to pause, to be enveloped in a calm atmosphere, far from the rush of daily life.
Five words you closely associate with the concept of the Garden of Eden:
Harmony, connection, light, serenity, wonder.
Pierre-Alexandre Risser
Bio
Katerina Korshun was born in Kazakhstan in 1982. After studying art, she graduated in fashion design and began working as a stylist. In 2009, after moving to Prague, she discovered felt and made it her artistic language. She experiments with wool and natural fibers, blending tradition and innovation. Since 2014, she has been teaching and founded the online School of Modern Felt. Since 2021, she has lived in Italy, where she creates textile tapestries that explore the connection between humans and nature.