ULTRACE 2025
The installation project results from a collaboration between artists and designers Ada Sokół and zulu kuki. Through 3D printing technology, a fragment of the universe imagined by the artist has been brought into the physical world - a world where meticulously crafted imagery balances on the edge of hyperrealism and dreamlike fantasy.
The project's starting point was the Japanese phrase Shiawase ga kaeru, a poetic expression with two meanings: “happiness is a frog” and “happiness returns.” The scene that emerged from this idea—a harmonious composition of 3D objects—is a personal interpretation of the contemplation of joy and the feeling of fulfilment. Drawing from natural motifs—such as water lilies, tiny pond creatures, and insects—the 3D models were designed to capture even the most delicate details. They were created using stereolithographic 3D printing (SLA) and finished with a chrome layer.
The frog, long present in many cultures as a symbol of rebirth, happiness, and transformation, takes on a new dimension here. The silver silhouettes of animals reflect the surrounding space - and the viewer - inviting them to become part of the scene and reflect on their perception of peace and joy.
The car hood, specifically chosen for this work, comes from the sixth-generation Toyota Celica, manufactured in the 1990s - a time when Japanese automotive design stood out for its thoughtfulness and heart. The shape of the car’s headlights evokes the face of an amphibian, lending the hood subtle, unexpected curves while maintaining a clean, compact form. The hood was hand-painted at zulu kuki’s studio in Gdańsk. The visible brushstrokes resemble delicate ripples on water, adding a soft dynamism and texture that contrasts with the glossy surface of the 3D-printed elements. The juxtaposition of natural forms and cold, metallic finishes creates a tension between the organic and the technological. Yet these elements are not in opposition - instead, they suggest a vision of peaceful coexistence.
This project does not speak of nostalgia or strive for literal storytelling. It aims to capture a state of mind: a quiet moment in which something gentle and good returns. Happiness does not arrive suddenly—it glimmers softly in reflections, in details visible only to the patient eye. This installation draws in those still searching for joy and ready for it to return.
The project's starting point was the Japanese phrase Shiawase ga kaeru, a poetic expression with two meanings: “happiness is a frog” and “happiness returns.” The scene that emerged from this idea—a harmonious composition of 3D objects—is a personal interpretation of the contemplation of joy and the feeling of fulfilment. Drawing from natural motifs—such as water lilies, tiny pond creatures, and insects—the 3D models were designed to capture even the most delicate details. They were created using stereolithographic 3D printing (SLA) and finished with a chrome layer.
The frog, long present in many cultures as a symbol of rebirth, happiness, and transformation, takes on a new dimension here. The silver silhouettes of animals reflect the surrounding space - and the viewer - inviting them to become part of the scene and reflect on their perception of peace and joy.
The car hood, specifically chosen for this work, comes from the sixth-generation Toyota Celica, manufactured in the 1990s - a time when Japanese automotive design stood out for its thoughtfulness and heart. The shape of the car’s headlights evokes the face of an amphibian, lending the hood subtle, unexpected curves while maintaining a clean, compact form. The hood was hand-painted at zulu kuki’s studio in Gdańsk. The visible brushstrokes resemble delicate ripples on water, adding a soft dynamism and texture that contrasts with the glossy surface of the 3D-printed elements. The juxtaposition of natural forms and cold, metallic finishes creates a tension between the organic and the technological. Yet these elements are not in opposition - instead, they suggest a vision of peaceful coexistence.
This project does not speak of nostalgia or strive for literal storytelling. It aims to capture a state of mind: a quiet moment in which something gentle and good returns. Happiness does not arrive suddenly—it glimmers softly in reflections, in details visible only to the patient eye. This installation draws in those still searching for joy and ready for it to return.
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