The exhibition can be seen at DESA Unicum from 7 to 15 February. Its theme is ‘Fantastic Art. Surrealism and Magical Realism’. Among the collected works are those by Zdzisław Beksiński, Salvador Dali or Ewa Juszkiewicz. an object by a Polish woman and a delicate etching by a master of Surrealism complete the collection of several dozen works by artists who know no bounds of imagination.
Dreams and visions in the works of Beksiński
Zdzisław Beksiński is one of the most distinctive Polish artists. His paintings and graphics are recognised by everyone, and the style he developed has inspired subsequent artists for years. Many people draw attention to the therapeutic function of his work, manifesting itself in the persistent return to a fixed repertoire of motifs painted in a similar way, as if to tame one’s fears. As we know from the artist’s biography, as a child he had sleep problems and was plagued by nightmares, which he never told anyone about. This was followed by an escape into books and even compulsive drawing.
Beksinski’s story is a tragic one – some even claimed that his entire family was cursed, which is reflected in the artist’s art. The fact is that much of his work is unsettling and often makes us uncomfortable. However, it is worth stopping and looking at his works a little more closely, with an open mind. The art he made was meant to be a cure for the trauma that constantly accompanied him. The untitled painting presented at the exhibition, depicting a figure against a background of tenement houses, however, apart from its gloominess, also has some positive or even magical elements. These include an intriguing, glowing object held in the figure’s left hand, a jumping dog that has been roused by the sight of the moon and stars that have fallen to the ground like dust. There is a brightness, a positive force – hope?
Beksinski’s surrealist works are a reflection of his nightmares and visions, and pouring them onto paper was a form of self-therapy and an attempt to forget them. It is difficult to state unequivocally what the bizarre, often frightening phenomena appearing on the painter’s canvases really are. There are as many associations as many recipients of Beksinski’s art. Many people think, probably rightly, that these are representations of the artist’s passing. His mature existential painting stemmed from the fears inherent in human life. Thanks to this understanding of human nature, Beksinski’s art is so moving and thought-provoking, says Karolina Jankowska, curator of the exhibition, DESA Unicum expert.
The February exhibition at DESA Unicum is in a way a tribute to the artist – apart from 3 works by Beksinski the exhibition includes other works which in a different way connote with the master’s art and life. Beksinski’s fascination with widely understood information technology is well known, to which Bogdan Pilatowicz’s works ‘Love on the Internet’ and ‘A.I. Algorithm SI’ by Żaneta Chłostowska refer. Many of the exhibited works subtly allude to the Sanok artist’s characteristic style through their dark mood and colouring: “Fight with Windmills” and “Abyss” by Dawid Figielek, “Melody for Women” from the series “Circus” by Szarlota Pawel or “Magical Mushrooms” by Łukasz Prządka. It is worth going to the exhibition and looking for similarities between the works of Zdzisław Beksiński and later artists yourself.
Unusual work by Ewa Juszkiewicz
The exhibition at DESA Unicum also presents an unusual object by a Polish artist of the new surrealism – a plate with a painting by Ewa Juszkiewicz. The work is a joint project between Gagosian Gallery and the non-profit organisation Coalition for Homeless. The prestige of this initiative can be evidenced by the fact that, apart from the Polish artist, it involved, among others, Virgil Abloh – the first founder of the cult streetwear brand Off-White, artistic director of the men’s line of Louis Vuitton fashion house, Helen Frankenthaler – American painter, representative of abstract expressionism and colour field painting, and Alex Israel – American multimedia artist, writer and designer from Los Angeles.
Ewa Juszkiewicz is undoubtedly one of the most internationally renowned Polish contemporary artists. No wonder, she has managed to create a very distinctive, feminine style. Her works are reminiscent of historical portraits, but Juszkiewicz wittily comments on gender stereotypes in her works. Imitating representations of women painted in the classicist style (Grand Manner), popular in Western art from the 18th to the early 19th century, the artist’s style is recognisable at first glance. The painter draws on 19th-century portraits of ladies, but paints them anew, introducing significant changes – she covers the figures’ faces with a storm of hair, wraps them in draped fabric or replaces them with a composition of feathers, exotic flowers and leaves, but also mushrooms or insect fragments. “The ‘surreal, strange and grotesque’ works, as the artist herself describes them, can be interpreted as a perverse feminist commentary on the role in which high-born ladies have been placed in not so distant history, or even more broadly, as a critique of the subjective perception of the fair sex as a whole.
Salvador Dali – a classic of Surrealism
When hearing ‘surrealism’, one name comes to mind above all: Dali. In 1975, the Spanish artist published ‘La Quete du Graal’, consisting of 12 signed engravings. There is an extremely romantic story associated with the work on show – ‘Le Detroit de Gadelore’. It depicts a duel between two knights, with a castle looming in the distance. Dali acquired the medieval castle in Púbol and gave it to his beloved wife – there is even a room with a magnificent throne for his beloved. The building was completely renovated by the artist, who opened up new spaces and introduced a romantic atmosphere with new decorations.
The exhibition ‘Fantastic Art. Surrealism and Magical Realism’ is a journey through the deepest recesses of the imagination of artists who sought inspiration for their works in dreams and visions. The exhibition can be visited free of charge at DESA Unicum from 7 to 15 February.
Exhibition coordinators: Karolina Jankowska and Julia Gorlewska
Estimations: there is a wide range of price ranges on offer, from works with a starting price of around PLN 1 200-1 800 to representations in the range of PLN 90 000-150 000. The highest estimate is for an untitled painting by Zdzisław Beksiński – PLN 500,000-800,000.
The exhibition ‘Fantastic Art. Surrealism and Magical Realism’: 7.02 – 15.02.2024
Auction: 15.02.2024, 7 p.m., DESA Unicum auction house, 1A Piękna St., Warsaw
source: DESA Unicum
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