Sorela Archív (Sorela Archive)

The work Sorela Archív is a work in progress, currently 35 meters of archival footage sewn down to 17 meters. The artist continues to develop this living archive.

Sorela Archív (Sorela Archive) is an award-winning fine art textile installation created by Slovak-Hungarian visual artist Emma Straňáková as her 2026 graduation project at Academie Minerva. 

The project explores memory, physical archives, and the lingering nostalgia of Eastern Europe's communist past. "Sorela" is a Slovak portmanteau for Socialist Realism (socialistický realizmus), the state-enforced architectural and artistic style of the Soviet era.

Through this piece, Straňáková investigates how materials can retain and transform collective history. She incorporates family narratives from communist-era Slovakia, questioning what is lost, altered, or added when stories are passed down through generations.

Sorela Archív won the prestigious Award for Fine Art 2026 at the academy's graduation show, with the jury praising deep reflection on memory and tactility. It has also recieved the Noorderlicht Selection Prize 2026 for lens-based media work that demonstrates experimentation, urgency, and a distinct vision on the relationship between image, society, and technology.

Furthermore it was selected for the Best of Graduates 2026 exhibition at Galerie Ron Mandos in Amsterdam, a showcase highlighting the most promising emerging artists from Dutch art academies.