When Poetry Meets Illustration: Spotlight on artists Kaja Rakušček and Miriam Panieri

Miriam Panieri (Bologna, April 1996) uses collages, crayons, old photos, symbols, digital and analogue medias to give life to her illustrations. She's currently working with different brands and realities between Italy and Europe.

Their paths crossed in sunny Lisbon in 2020 where Kaja was doing an Erasmus exchange and Miriam was illustrating a book for her Erasmus for Young Entrepeneurs exchange. Once given the chance, they collaborated on a project which combines Kaja's poetry and Miriam's illustrations.

Art Aia is spatially and ideologically closely connected with nature. While living in an idyllic house surrounded by green paradise, one begins to understand why the Romantics idealised nature so much and consequently makes one realize the importance and the soothing effect of art on the human soul.

Miriam's illustrations are done with overlays of materials such as paper and leaves combined with digital color. Miriam decided for non-figurative scenarios to leave the reader's mind free to flow and interact with the verses while her illustrations provide the atmosphere.