She started to read and write when she was less than four years old. At the age of five, she decided to become a writer and wrote her first story.
E. C. Laukoni
Written word has been part of her life since she can remember. Creating is her way of escaping the world and people. Creating is also the reason why she loves being among people and feels integrity with the world.
As she remarks, ‘it is a phenomenal feeling when I have an ordinary conversation in an ordinary place with ordinary people during an ordinary event and suddenly a story pops in my head… and this story carries me away into the world of imagination, where every image is a work of art. And every piece of the reality takes on a new meaning, every thought takes shape and comes alive; everything around becomes extraordinary.’
As long as her stories inspire, bring hope, make you wonder or evoke emotions, she will continue writing. Comfortable sofa, a cup of coffee, a notebook and a fountain pen, an Indian ink, a brush and a paint tube – that’s what she calls home.
“I think ‘home’ is not necessarily the place of your birth, but the place you feel you belong with. No matter where I had lived, be it Poland, England, Australia or France, it felt like home. Despite the differences in the culture, language, traditions and mentality, I found my place.
I believe it comes from within.”
Laukoni is a writer who finds the words; these words are here a means, not an end.
They are a means to convey what the author has to say, her expressive distinctiveness in her writings. Each of the story constitutes a separate individuality, while revealing the psychological unity and uniqueness of her own person as a creator; the fragment of spiritual biography, bearing the beauty of style and her creative personality.
She takes you on a journey to experience the diversity in unity. While reading, you experience the message, the deeper meaning, the untold and unrevealed. It’s like you are here, living the stories and feeling the emotions. You smell the aromas, you taste the flavours, you hear the voices, you see all the colours and shapes with your own eyes.
Venturing into uncharted terrain, Laukoni has chosen not to translate her works in a conventional way. She herself writes her stories in three languages instead. These are the same stories told in three different ways, yet not translated word-for-word. She’s chosen a path that feels natural to her, staying true to her vision and maintaining integrity. She believes she can offer something distinct – something that is even more personal, more authentic; something that resonates on a deeper level, setting her apart in ways that are rarely found elsewhere.
When you share good news with your friends or when you tell a fairytale to your child, every time you tell it, you alter that story. That’s what I do with mine. I think differently in every language and I cannot always express the same thought in identical way in those languages. I tried translating my own texts and it didn’t work for me. Maybe this will change in the future, but for now this approach feels more natural to me.
Laukoni seamlessly blends the written word with art, creating a captivating fusion of visual and literary expression. Her multi-dimensional work cannot be reduced to a single label, genre or form, as she is capable of inhabiting any role, tone or medium with equal authenticity and skill.
artist – creator
vision | perspective | texture
writer – author
voice | point of view | structure
E.C. Laukoni was born and raised in Poland. Since her teenage years she has been fascinated by various cultures and languages, and was keen on discovering them through her own experience, be it reading books, meeting people or travelling. She fell in love with Great Britain, Spain, Japan and Germany – their people and cultures. Britain felt like home from the first time she visited and she felt connected to the people, the culture and the land. ‘It felt home, while being away from home,’ she remembers. ‘It seems like I could have lived there in my previous life’ Laukoni adds, smiling. Then, in 2014, she moved to France, where she lives to this day.
‘It came rather as a surprise, I would never choose France to live in, to be honest. I was about to move to London, when my partner at the time convinced me to move in with him. I can’t say I was happy with that decision at the start, however, today, when I look at it from the perspective of over a decade of living in France, I believe it was France that chose me.’
Having lived in multiple countries, she has gained a unique perspective that has enriched her artistic practice and storytelling. The influence of these countries can be noticed in her writing. These three cultures, their heritage and languages, as well as people – especially Poles, Brits and French – with their particular mentality and traditions, influence her life and show up in her writing.
Laukoni’s mother recollects her daughter’s early childhood as full of writing: ‘She started to read and write when she was less than four years old. At the age of five, she decided to become a writer and wrote her first story. Then, aged about five, she used mostly rhymes when talking to others,’ her mother recalls. ‘She would create poems and tell stories while queueing with me to buy food and other commodities. It was the time when we’d use ration stamps in Poland. Often, she would have a small audience listening to her stories and clapping.’ Laukoni’s mother’s face lights up with unspoken pride. ‘Her early school years were all about creating poetry and then, when she turned eleven or twelve, she founded her own school theatre and for about a couple of years was writing plays, directing and performing on stage in front of other pupils, teachers and parents. After that, sometime around her high school years, her writing grew more intense, taking on a darker tone and greater complexity.’ Laukoni’s mother remembers.
‘When it comes to art,’ Laukoni’s mother recalls, ‘after being discouraged by school teachers, she discontinued her artistic endeavours. Except for photography, which still played a role in her life.’ Her mother pauses for a moment, a regretful expression lingers on her face. ‘Then, at some point in her thirties, she picked it back up after all these years – it’s like she has never stopped. Most of her illustrations, drawings and paintings decorate my house.’ She says, her eyes sparkling when she winks.
My mum is awesome. She is present during all the stages of all my works, artistic and literary ones. I always share my excitement about new ideas with her. She usually listens patiently, sometimes asking questions that force me to make my story better, and sometimes lovingly criticising my too-many-ideas-all-at-once-mind by saying “How about those two other stories you started to write? And what’s going on with that illustration you started to draw? Have you finished any of them yet?”
In the years 2011-2013 Laukoni had been attending the literary workshops of SPP in Dom Literatury in Warsaw, which gave her the confidence to not only write literary fiction, but also share it with others. Since then, the writing meetings became an inherent part of Laukoni’s life. She is an active member of several writing groups in Europe to this day.
Laukoni spends most of her time creating fictional worlds, bringing them to life through words and a range of visual mediums. When she’s not making things up, she is editing manuscripts, guiding business owners through personal brand development, helping non-native writers leverage their cultural advantage and coaching aspiring writers. She makes her home in France.