Ashika’s statement and CV
Ashika in front of a sculpture in his
Embraceart Studio, Victoria, Australia
I have a soft spot for hard stone. My journey with stone began in 1977 when I was 18 years old, travelling alone in the windswept tundra of Canada’s Yukon Territories. In the middle of nowhere, I came across a monolith, half sunk into the permafrost. Someone unknown had carved it, paying reverence to the power of nature. I will never forget that moment, when standing in that vast silence, I embraced a message in stone for the first time.
On a personal level, and from the perspective of time, I am giving back to Nature what She gave to me. It’s a full circle. My journey with stone has helped me to find peace and joy. And with nature’s offerings, to create works of serenity and timeless beauty.
Ashika
Marek Ostapkowicz
Born in Poland in 1959, emigrated to Canada in 1975. During 1979-81, first experimented in environmental sculpture while living with Athabascan Indians in the Yukon. In 1998, established Embrace Art Studio in Australia, with his wife and fellow artist, Padma.
Education
Langara College, Fine Arts Program (1982-85)
Capilano College Art Institute (1986-87)
Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (1987-90)
Graduate diploma in sculpture, design, drawing
Exhibitions and installations of his work have appeared in:
Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens (2016, 2017, 2018)
Wall of Remembrance, Woodend Avenue of Honour (2015)
Two sculptures selected for the Public Art Collection for EastLink, VIC, Australia (2008)
Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award (2007)
McClelland Australian Contemporary Sculpture Survey and Award (2005)
Sotheby’s Fine Australian Art Auction, Melbourne (2005)
Qdos Gallery, Lorne, Australia (2003-05)
Kazari Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (1998-2005)
McClelland Australian Contemporary Sculpture Survey and Award (2003)
Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery and Museum, Melbourne (2002)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (2002)
Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Australia (2000)
Span Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (1998)
Loe-Van Gallery Singapore (1996)
Gallery ‘O’, London, UK (1994)
Victoria Art Gallery, Victoria, Canada (1992)
Vancouver Centennial Museum, Vancouver, Canada (1992)
Charles H. Scott Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (1990)
Sculptures in private collections:
In Australia, Ashika is proud to be included in private collections of:
Mr. and Mrs. Besen
Brian Bourke (Barrister)
Mr. & Mrs. Gandel
Myer family
His sculptures are also in collections internationally:
Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Australia
Montreal, Vancouver, Canada
New York, NY; Sedona, AZ, USA
London, England
Munich, Stellshagen, Germany
Oslo, Norway
Singapore
Pune, India