Enikő Daczó at NY20+ | A metamorphosis artwork
Enikő Daczó, has been one of the winners for Special Prize Art Residency NY20+ (2024), and has recently completed her period in China. Her newest project is Cocoon.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Enikő Daczó is a Hungarian visual artist based in Transylvania (Romania) and a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene. Her work fluidly spans installations, photo-video & sound, land art, and painting—genres that complement each other through a constant pursuit of experimentation, interactivity, and instinctive presence.
Daczó is deeply concerned with energy, vibration, and the themes of sexuality and female identity, frequently challenging social stereotypes. Recurrent motifs such as balloons, mirrors, nylon foils, and rubber gloves are used to “record the air,” blowing love and pain into her works, thereby evoking both heaven and hell. Through the power of spontaneous gestural painting and the integration of environmental elements, Enikő Daczó creates pieces that breathe with the space, capturing the power of the “HERE and NOW” with minimal yet incisive intervention.
THE EXPERIENCE
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to take part in the NY20+ Residency at Nongyuan Culture,
and I am also thankful to the Arte Laguna Prize for making this possible. My time in Chengdu was incredibly inspiring and enriching, both artistically and personally. The natural beauty of Sichuan, the vibrant artistic community, and the unique atmosphere of this place, together with the inspiring exchange with artists from different nationalities, have left a lasting impression on me.During the residency, I created a 3-meter suspended installation titled “Cocoon”, made from recycled bamboo fiber and cotton thread. The work was inspired by the silkworm’s cocoon and reflects on transformation, protection, and quiet metamorphosis. The material was locally sourced: discarded bamboo fiber I found in Chengdu, a forgotten natural residue that I slowly shaped by hand, stitching layer upon layer with simple thread.
Suspended in air, Cocoon becomes both body and space: a shelter, a vessel, a threshold. In this work, place, material, and time converge, forming a delicate structure that listens, breathes, and gently holds the tension of becoming.Working in Chengdu, a city where tradition and modernity coexist, provided unique perspectives and inspiration, particularly regarding the symbolism of silk and local cultural heritage. The cultural and natural beauty I encountered was truly captivating. The residency offered me space to reflect, experiment, and grow as an artist, and I will carry these experiences with me into my future work.