vernissage: Thursday, 6 April, 6 p.m. 

________________________________________________________________________

 This premier exhibition of Zbigniew Blukacz's paintings consists of two cycles: Optics of Memory and Archetypes of Landscape. These two apparently different cycles - one focusing on people, and the other on landscapes - stem from a common source, being the power of an image affecting the artist's memory in the same way light affects the photographic film. This memory bank contains the records of vacations and events that carry some emotional weight, as well as natural views to which the artist has attributed a particular importance.

Agata Smalcerz

 

 

 

Optics of Memory
In fact, we are not even certain of the near future, and "the present" in fact consists of what happened just a moment ago. Only the past is certain. The "I" is to a great extent our memory. The image of the reality we know has been created by the memory. A painting is created by memory.

- what does an image recalled from memory look like?

- is it always the same?

- is it homogeneous, like a photograph?

- is it real?

- what does it mean that an image is real or not?

- in that case, is there a reality that hasn't been made up?

Zbigniew Blukacz

 

Archetypes of Landscape
This cycle of landscapes is a continuation of the trend that has been an important part of my painting fascination for almost 30 years. The sky, sea, trees, space is a world which had existed before the dawn of civilization. A world which has embraced us, a world far superior to ourselves. A world explored by artists for hundreds, or even thousands of years, seemingly obvious and archetypal, and yet observed with utmost concentration: unique, multiple, infinitely rich, enchanting, divine and mysterious. After all, any old meadow has all the possible mathematical equations growing on it.

Zbigniew Blukacz

 

 

 

 

Zbigniew Blukacz - born in Panki in 1961. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, Graphic Department in Katowice, 1981-1986; Degree in graphic design under Professor Adam Romaniuk and Professor Jacek Rykała (1986). In 1988, he started teaching at his alma mater; currently heads the Painting Department at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice; and holds the title of Full Professor.