A serious car accident changed his life, after which he was left bound to a wheelchair. He spent a long time searching for an activity that would suit him and fulfill him. During one of his rehabilitation stays in Sklené Teplice at the end of the 1990s, he met basket weaver Milan Molčan from eastern Slovakia, who was dedicated to basket weaving but reluctantly showed his work to others. Over time, they became friends and Milan Trnka was initiated into the secrets of basket weaving. He witnessed the beginnings and knew that in order to improve, he had to persevere. His range consists of two basic types of baskets made from unpeeled wicker. The classic round basket he learned to make from Milan Molčan. Weaving an oval wall basket, known as “filpások” in Liptov, was shown to him by Mr. Krivoš from Vavrišovo, who was already ninety years old at the time. He had heard about him, traveled to meet him, and asked him to show him the technological process so that his knowledge would not be lost. “He had his methods, I have mine, I had to adapt them since I am in a wheelchair. However, I think I may now make these baskets even more beautifully than him. Perhaps he can be proud up there that I continue on his path,” says Milan Trnka with joy in his voice, for whom basket weaving has become a therapeutic tool, as it requires constant movement, which is excellent rehabilitation for him. Of course, he also devoted himself to other creative activities, but wicker soothes his soul, captivates him, and he cannot part from it. Perhaps also because it allows him to fulfill his intense connection to nature, which he has had since childhood. He draws energy, vital force from nature, he can intuitively listen to his body through it, shedding armor and allowing it to flow through him. Just the collection of material is an experience for him. During the summer, he walks, surveys locations where twigs grow, and then in the autumn, he goes to cut them. Over time, he found that the best twigs are those that grow from the roots in the ground. He also noticed that different types of willows vary, whether in the tapering and thickness of the twigs or the proportion of wood and pith. He goes for collection with his father, son, or brother, but preferably alone. How many times has he gotten stuck in the mud or fallen in his wheelchair – but he takes it all as a creative part of life, which in this case leads to a beautiful basket. He does not produce for quantity but for quality. Just shaving the ribs for the frame of the wall basket often takes him a whole afternoon. He uses knives with an interesting history in his work. He made them from stainless surgical steel, with which “his body was assembled” after the car accident. “When they took them out, I told the doctor that I would take those irons. And I made myself knives from them – in protest against the spiky ones that came for me,” he says. He does not consider himself a master of his craft, rather he sees himself as self-taught. However, if someone is interested, he is happy to advise and show them about basket weaving. Through years of practice, he knows that the most important thing to endure is patience. One can only improve through work, and behind it all are hundreds of hours, even years, of weaving. Life, however, has taught him to distinguish essential things from baggage, so he only devotes himself to things that are valuable to him. And basket weaving, as a faithful companion, belongs there. Content with his fate, he does not fret over what he cannot change and rejoices in what allows him to continue being creative and a part of the surrounding community.