Ráchel Jutka, one of the laureates of the Oskar Čepan Award this year, expresses her vision of painting that transcends traditional boundaries by incorporating three-dimensional elements and occasionally animals into her work. In an interview, she shares insights about the tension between intuitive expression and deliberate control in her creative process, emphasizing the enjoyment she derives from long-term projects, such as her recent exhibition at the Ján Koniar Gallery in Trnava.

During her preparation for the exhibition, Jutka indicates that she found joy in both the solitary aspects of working in her studio and the collaborative efforts with architects and carpenters, highlighting how collaboration can enhance the artistic process. She strives to maintain a delicate balance between spontaneity and intention in her paintings, often grappling with an internal struggle to set boundaries for her creativity while permitting free expression of ideas.

Jutka's remarks on her artistic boundaries provide a reflection on the broader themes in contemporary art, where personal experience and interaction with different mediums intersect. Her work aims to evoke feelings of nostalgia while feeding into larger dialogues about art's role in society, the adaptation of traditional forms, and the emotional resonance of art in exploring relationships between objects, space, and viewers.