• November 18, 2008
  • Posted by Marc

The A’s To Our Q’s: Edina Tokodi (aka Mosstika)

For the past year, Sara and I have been working day and night on a book project for TASCHEN entitled “Trespass: A History Of Unauthorized Public Art”. 

In the course of doing research for the book. we’ve had the pleasure of meeting and learning about new forms “unauthorized public art” that we haven’t showcased as mich as we should have on the Wooster site. 

One of our obsessions of late has been the “guerrilla gardening” movement. And one of the most influential artists in this scene is Edina Tokodi (aka Mosstika). 

We’re thrilled to share with you her “A’s to our Q’s”:

mossgirl.jpg

Age: 30
Hometown: Kecskemet, in the middle of Hungary
Where do you now live?: Brooklyn, NY
Where would you most like to live?: in Europe somewhere close to the Sea
Who was your first “hero” in life?: Johnny “Tarzan” Weissmuller smile
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: Keep develop my craft and simply just not think about work. also reading, and watching a good movie
What is your favorite color?: green, blue
Who (or what) do you love?: Pityke and my Family.  and I love to go swim or jogging early in the morning smile

mosstik.jpg

Wooster: Who and/or what are some of your influences?

I’m influenced constantly by various experiences, meetings, readings; even by walking on the streets. What inspires me the most however is to encounter various media, artworks, or other people. It’s the sincerity in a creative piece that I value the most; that it’s made with heart and hand.

On the other hand I grew up in a very inspiring milieu. My parents and my two sisters are all creative persons, either in an artistic or in a practical sense. Very early on, it became natural for me to approach things in this way.

Wooster: What other artists do you most admire?

There are several landscape and environmental artists I like a lot, such as Goldsworthy, Christo, or James Turrell. There are some contemporary designers who influence me too, like Tord Boontje whom I especially admire.

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

I work with plants and other living or organic materials such as hand-made paper, sand, etc. I try to bring nature closer to city dwellers both with my street art pieces and with my site-specific indoor installations.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have?

I would love to be able to play music.

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

If we don’t pay much more attention we may cause irreversible harm to our environment in the close future.

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

Certainly, my greatest ambition is to create more and more complex works that allow me to explore the diversity of and possible connections between (organic) materials and, still, to remain close to the nature.

You can learn more about Mosstika here.