Casa Cultural
Trude Sojka
Casa Cultural
Trude Sojka
Prensa-Noticias
©: 2010/10/05
Meridith's Guide to Art.
When viewing Trude Sojka’s art you will find it to be very fluid, having lots of movement. Her paintings and sculptures constantly draw the eyes around the piece finding more details, seeing more with each sweeping motion of the eye around the art.
SYMBOLISM
WOMEN:
Painting and sculpting women was significant to Trude Sojka. Mrs. Sojka placed significance on women, representing the mother and child, family, and a new start. Mrs. Sojka had strong maternal desires for children and to have a family. Her new life and beginning a new family in Ecuador signified a new start to life for her.
PHASES/TIME PERIODS
POST-HOLOCAUST 1948 – 1958/1960:
The art Trude Sojka produced during this time reflects the Holocaust; this was Trude Sojka’s recovery period and darkest phase of paintings. The paintings show depression, sadness, and solitude but also her faith and hope in God.
PRE-COLUMBIAN 1958/1960’s
Trude Sojka was very much interested in learning about the indigenous people and cultures of Ecuador and consulted experts to learn all she could about them. Ecuadorians had a special place in her heart since they were the ones who opened their borders and arms to her after being liberated.
EXPRESSIONISM 1970’s – 1980’s
One of Trude Sojka’s favorite painters was the Russian Jewish artist Marc Chagall. Chagall painted in the expressionism style. Expressionists put their emotions and being into what they paint, not reproducing an exact image. This work allowed her creativity to flow and her energy explode.
FANTASY 1990’s – 2000’s
The art created during this time is smaller in size because Trude Sojka was not as young and strong as she used to be. During this time she painted about fantasy, dreams, and fairly tale like scenes, stressing her youth, playfulness and creativity. This was the last phase of her art showing peace and serenity.
Trude Sojka was conscious about recycling. She reused and recycled anything. In some of her art some materials you may see pieces of include (but are not limited to) copper, glass, porcelain, plastic, or mother of pearl. A few pieces were created on the lid of a garbage can.
Throughout her life Trude Sojka created almost 1000 pieces of art. Creating art helped her recover from the trauma she endured. She had to do it, it was therapy for her, simply put, it gave her peace.
The Trude Sojka Cultural House provides a place of peace and hope for the community of Ecuador, just as Ecuador provided Mrs. Sojka and she expressed in her art.
Galería Trude Stojka Foto: Revista Vistazo
Meridith's Guide to Art
Mujer en Azul Trude Sojka
BIRDS:
The name Sojka means a blue bird in Czech. This particular blue bird is common. To Trude Sojka the bird symbolized freedom which is why she incorporated the Phoenix into her art, to symbolize rebirth, her rebirth after liberation from Auschwitz.
BOATS and OCEANS:
Boats and oceans were another symbol of freedom to Trude Sojka. It was boats that took her on a journey for three months across the ocean to freedom. They took her to her brother and a new life in Ecuador after her liberation from Auschwitz.
CIRCLES and SPIRALS:
Circles and spirals represented life to Mrs. Sojka, the circle of life. They portray the ups and downs of life, telling us we will never know what we will have. Sometimes we will have plenty and at any time we may end up empty or with nothing. The circle is never ending, enclosing what is on the inside.
