[Marusya-Varvara Vadimovna Kazakova-Chayko-Tamboura]
JAHNKOY
JAHNKOY is a multidisciplinary artist and a fashion designer based in Brooklyn, New York (United States). Being born in Siberia (Soviet Union), she then moved to Moscow to study Fashion Design in British Higher School of Art and Design, where she received a BFA in Womenswear (2012). Later she went to London and finished a Graduate Diploma in Fashion from Central Saint Martins in Menswear (2014). After that she relocated to New York for a Masters in Fine Art "Fashion and Society" program at Parsons The New School of Design (2016).
After graduation the artist was supported by PUMA and became a resident of Restoration-Art Cultural Center, which has resulted in creation of several large scale projects. The shows were held in New York, Moscow, Cape town, Beijing, Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.(2017-2019).
JAHNKOY was selected in "Final 8" of LVMH Prize (2017), was listed in Forbes "30 under 30" in «Art & Style» (2018) and chosen as one of the "12 Apostles" of Esquire Russia in Art Category (2021). JAHNKOY was also featured as the Emerging Designer at CFDA Runway and was part of CFDA Elain's Gold LaunchPad program.
JAHNKOY's practice is build as a multidisciplinary approach rooted in Craftivism. It includes, but not limited to: Fashion Art, Performance, Editorials, Ready-to-Wear Fashion Collections, Socio-Cultural Research, Paintings, Art Objects, Collage, Tape Art, Doll Making and Crafting workshops.
The artist is working towards restoration of artisanal craftsmanship and revival of the global cultural heritage in the contemporary landscape, simultaneously absorbing and analyzing global current realities, as well as her own identity. The purpose of JAHNKOY's work is to redefine and rebuild creative expression in self adornment and to restore the tremendous variety of skills and techniques that our ancestors used for the garment creation. JAHNKOY means New Spirit Village, it stands for the cultural unity of all nations and emphasizes craft as an ultimate tool towards the healing of mankind.
JAHNKOY's practice is build as a multidisciplinary approach rooted in Craftivism. It includes, but not limited to: Fashion Art, Performance, Editorials, Ready-to-Wear Collections, Socio-Cultural Research, Paintings, Art Objects, Collage, Tape Art, Doll Making and Crafting workshops.
The artist is working towards restoration of artisanal craftsmanship and revival of the global cultural heritage in the contemporary landscape, simultaneously absorbing and analyzing global current realities, as well as her own identity.
The purpose of JAHNKOY's work is to redefine and rebuild creative expression in self-adornment and to restore the tremendous variety of skills and techniques that our ancestors used for the garment creation.
JAHNKOY means New Spirit Village, it stands for the cultural unity of all nations and emphasizes craft, as an ultimate tool towards the healing of mankind.
JAHNKOY's craftivist art/fashion practice was launched with the Graduate Collection «DISPLACED» (2014-2016) from Parsons, MFA «Generation-5», emphasizing the necessity of global cultural restoration and the revival of craftsmanship through the lens of Sportswear, as well as underlining the urgency of racial equality, diversity and sustainability in Fashion Industry. Following that, artist's work has been developing through a series of social-cultural fashion projects over the period of 3 years, JAHNKOY Projects were created, as a part of Kazakova’s residency at Restoration-Art Cultural Center, (Brooklyn, New York) and has been supported by PUMA and Swarovski.
«DISPLACED: Crafting Revolution» (2016-2017) - the project was presented as a fashion performance at CFDA Emerging Designer Platform-1 at NYFWM. The collection then has traveled to South Africa and was shown at SAFWM in Cape Town. Art installation was presented in China, Beijing as a part of Wavelength Group Exhibition. Fashion Shows was held in Brazil, opening up Sao Paolo FWM and celebrating with the community show at the Dacri Deviati Center in Rio de Janeiro, following up with the crafting workshops. This collection has been selected as a finalist at the LVMH Prize and the artist was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 in «Art & Style».
«Work-in-Progress» (2017) - limited edition pieces were created and presented at Bergdorf Goodman Men’s department store, together with the window displays and the installation on the 3rd floor. The opening event was held with food and music. Following that the project was presented as a community event, exhibition and crafting workshop at Restoration-Art, Bedford-Stuyvesant Cultural Center.
«DECEIVED: No More a.k.a. Born to Appropriate» (2018) - fashion performance was presented at CFDA Emerging Designer Platform-2 in NYFWM and then separate performance was held at the All-Russian Museum of Applied and Folk Arts in Moscow, together with solo exhibition featuring JAHNKOY projects and Kazakova’s earlier body of work. The show was a part of Russia World Cup and a special JAHNKOY x PUMA Football Kit were created for that purpose. JAHNKOY has been selected as a part of CFDA Elain’s Gold Launch Pad Program.
«CRAFTING EVOLUTION:10 years of Fashion Study» (2019) - solo exhibition was showcased at Fashion Institute of Technology following up with
«ME$$ENJAH» (2019) - Fashion Performance, that presented first Ready-to-Wear Collection of JAHNKOY. The show then was presented at Restoration-Art Cultural Center as a part of New Windows Festival. First RTW Collection was also presented at Tomorrow Showroom in Paris, opening JAHNKOY to the global market.
PUMAxJAHNKOY limited edition Capsule Collection were created reflecting JAHNKOY’s artistic vision and celebrating cultural heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability. In this spirit, the collection’s footwear was made using responsibly sourced and recycled materials to reduce waste as well as organic cotton were used for the apparel. The presentation event were held in Moscow, following with PUMA by YOU workshops in New York.
JAHNKOY STUDIO were opened in Restoration Plaza, Brooklyn, New York (2021), following JAHNKOY's 3 year art-residency in the Restoration-Art Cultural Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant. The studio is a joined venture of JAHNKOY and BURKINDY, it is a design studio, as well as a concept store, presenting apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry, as well as a collection of books, cameras and selected artwork.