Taleja Engelke was born and raised in Berlin. Her interest in historical painting and drawing techniques led her from making her own paints to making her own paper. This process allows her to blend her knowledge of paints, glues, and pigments with the mindful practice of gathering natural fibres and transforming them into paper. For Taleja, papermaking is a way to reconnect with the natural world, reimagining ‘poor’ or ‘worthless’ fibers by turning them into meaningful objects. Through this ancient ritual of working with fibre, water, and movement, she creates a medium that embodies both fragility and resilience, directly connecting her to the motherland and its stories.
