You’d never know looking at it, but the weather gods were not kind to Berlin illustrator Viktoria Cichoń’s latest major project: an eye-popping mural across the facade of Berlin’s KitKatClub.
A collaboration with BackMarket, which specializes in selling refurbished electronic devices, the approximately 300-square-meter work spanning both levels and sides of the the world-famous fetish club depicts a cheeky hand character, “Second Hand,” which is showing some love to “preloved” devices including a mobile phone, earbuds case, and portable speaker. “It’s a play on buying refurbished electronic devices and also inspired by KitKatClub and what is going on in there,” Cichoń says with a laugh one recent Saturday at The Boys Club, the Neukölln design studio and collective she runs with five other women designers.
SLEEK speaks with Cichoń about the project and her illustration and hand-lettering work (which, beyond fetish clubs, can also be seen in small businesses and supermarkets around Berlin), her sources of inspiration, and why her vintage racing bike is her favorite “preloved” object.
First things first: Can you share the backstory of your artist name, Vikunia?
Vikunia is a Polish nickname for Viktoria. That’s what my mum called me. And when I was looking for an artist name, I chose that. I didn’t really think about it much, but people have a hard time writing and pronouncing my last name, so I thought, I need an artist name.
How did you get your start with large-scale art?
I finished my studies in 2014, and I did an internship with Klub7, an artist collective that does huge murals. I was very excited to work with them. They kind of got me into doing murals and working on a large scale.
What do you want people to feel when they interact with your work?
I want them to be entertained. I am not taking myself very seriously, so I’m hoping that my art doesn’t come across as too serious. It’s always supposed to be a little bit silly and fun.
What effects did the pandemic have on you personally and professionally?
Professionally I still had enough jobs to come by. I think after the first shock of the pandemic I was very anxious, and I saved a lot of money by not spending it on random things. I was trying to be very careful about this, because I didn’t know what would happen to me [professionally]. I realized I don’t need that many things, and I just like to live a minimalist life, with very low expenses, and be more conscious about it.
Indeed, the pandemic helped boost the sustainability movement in some ways, too. How do you think more people can adopt this principle of re-loving the preloved?
We have to consume less because there are already so many things in the world. I was mostly motivated by saving some money, that’s why I bought second-hand stuff, but I’m glad it’s a trend because it makes sense. I think we just have to [keep moving in this direction]: produce less and consume less to stop climate change.
What’s your favorite preloved object?
My bike. I have a vintage racing bike, which is also a trend — but I’m not trying to be very conscious here, it’s just I really like the look of it! The brand is called Nishiki. It has a white and turquoise gradient and a pink seat. I just love my bike. I live on it.
The mural you just finished has an environmentally friendly aspect to it, too: special paint, correct?
Yes. The paint is environmentally friendly and it is water-based acrylic paint, but it also cleans the air. So when it’s in contact with sunlight, it reacts and absorbs the pollution in the air.
Your bio says you’re inspired by peculiar human behavior and silly things. Why?
The things that inspire me are mostly other humans. I especially like living in a city like Berlin. There’s so many interesting people and different kinds of people. I also like going to other cities and just walking around and overhearing conversations. It’s just very interesting to me how people talk to each other, what they are interested in, and what they feel.
Feminist rage is another inspiration. Tell us more about that.
I feel feminist rage often just by being a woman in a patriarchal society. It’s just something that moves me and I’m constantly reminded of the struggles women and non-binary people face. Being angry about injustices definitely drives me, and while I’m privileged as a white woman, there are still struggles. I like to incorporate this into my work, even if it’s just by showing more women than men or by showing gender diversity.
Besides rain, what are some other challenges in working on large-scale urban art projects like the one you just finished?
It’s very hard to get the proportions right, but there are some tips and tricks you can do, like making a grid. It’s very time intensive, and it’s also very exhausting physically and mentally too. But it’s very rewarding once you’re done. It’s the best feeling.
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