Kowalik’s recent work is an ongoing exploration for finding placement within

the existing historical timeline. Rerouting, tracing, and sorting misplaced

[often misleading] information brings an opportunity to ground themselves

in their narrative. They pay homage to ancestry, mysticism and marronage

as frames of reference within this body of work. These frames are vehicles

used to affirm and contextualize their current circumstances- living in a

black body.

This repetitive process of resorting and embedding themselves in a more

inclusionary narrative allows them to relish in transformative experiences

within their personal growth and healing of generational wounding.

In this particular body of work, Kowalik is the traveler and discovers

themselves through an arduous hellscape that is working against them.

The unforgiving terrain takes on anthropomorphic traits indicative of

systemic issues that have haunted them and their ancestors. Their

vulnerable and unapologetic nature takes center stage, as they ground

themselves by reconciling their current and pre-existing narratives.

Remnants of the journey can be identified in the soft sculptures which are

containers that capture the body’s movements while navigating the

hellscape. Acknowledgment of shedding one’s past is recalled through an

accumulation of discarded kanekalon hair. The repetitive imagery of loud

dogs signals the relentless progression and natural instinct when provoked

in this undertaking of self-mastery.

Kowalik recognizes everything truly comes to a close when they reconcile

with history. Their reconciliation process is captured through labor, material

and writing. With a focus on growth and healing of generational wounds,

Kowalik finds place and meaning in the existing Black historical timeline

and foresees a prosperous future ahead.