Level One 2006

Małgorzata Serwatka made this painting, Level One, in an unknown year, using paint to capture a vision of runners beneath the sun. The colors are vibrant, and the way the figures are arranged and layered feels both carefully planned and intuitively rendered. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture and color create a sense of depth and movement, particularly with the band of dark purple rectangles, which suggest steps. The surface has a tactile quality, inviting the eye to wander over its details. The figures above are delineated in simple red outlines against a yellow sun, echoed by a band of figures below in dark blue, painted against a yellow ground. The piece has a raw, almost folk-art feel, with each element contributing to the overall emotional impact. The way Serwatka uses color and form reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley, especially his interest in symbolic landscapes and figures. It's like they're both tapping into something primal and deeply human, through rhythm and simple expressive shapes.